| CMU Daily - on the inside Thursday 21st June |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Motley Crue manager responds to lawsuit
- Hookie on New Order split
- A bit grim: Spector trial update
- Mariachi legend dies
- Glasto shenanigans
- WOMAD adds
- GuilFest adds
- Guardian stage virtual festival
- Tubular Bells fender up for auction
- Fats Domino piano doesn't sell
- Rhino release indie galore
- New Kula Shaker
- New Underworld
- NewsCorp talking to Yahoo! re MySpace deal
- V2 signs up to We7
- Imeem launch new music service
- Cordless and Rykodisc merge
- Irish equity types bidding for Chrysalis Radio
- Magic marketing manager goes Smooth
- More Winehouse bond theme rumours
- Timberlake denies Muirfield ban
- A quick quiz
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TOP BIT: FIVE YEARS AND 1250 EDITIONS OF THE CMU DAILY>>
So, five years ago to this day file-sharing service Audiogalaxy reached an out of court settlement with the US record labels, dance indie Nuphonic confirmed they had ceased trading, the American Broadcasting Authority banned a DJ Vadim track because it had, in their opinion, 'patently offensive sexual references', Marilyn Manson was in court over allegations he assaulted a security guard at a gig in Michigan by gyrating his genitals against the bouncer, Mean Fiddler were confident the Leeds Festival would go ahead despite licensing concerns and former Metallica bassist Jason Newstead was being sued by an unsigned Dallas band for setting up a new outfit using their name, Echobrain.
I know this because five years ago to this day we published the first ever edition of the CMU Daily. Which means today is our fifth birthday. Hurrah for us. If you weren't all buggering off to Glastonbury in ten minutes we'd have some kind of impromptu party. But instead, perhaps you'd allow me a self indulgent Top Bit instead? After five years of providing everyone working in music with their daily dose of music news - from the biggest takeovers to the wildest P2P lawsuits to the dullest copyright litigation to the silliest digital rights management to the bestest new bands to the most exciting new tours and festivals to the most innovative new releases to the most outrageous artist bitching to the most incoherent band blogging to the most tedious Pete Doherty happenings - we are now the UK music business' biggest and most popular daily news service, with over 12,000 music people reading this nonsense every day.
As we enter our sixth year of the CMU Daily, and with the tenth anniversary of CMU itself coming up in 2008, we have a number of very exciting new developments coming your way in the next twelve months, all designed to help us better achieve our aims of connecting everyone working in music, from the grass roots up, while providing a platform that genuinely discovers and champions new music. Some of these new developments have been devised in response to the CMU Readers' Survey that you all (well, a lot of you) responded to earlier in the year.
These new developments include all of the following:
1. The launch of the CMU Daily in an html-email format, making things easier to navigate and prettier to look at.
2. The relaunch of the CMU Daily website, with a complete searchable archive of every CMU report, review and interview since 1998, including all five years of the CMU Daily.
3. The relaunch of the CMU Directory, expanded to include all key music business sectors, plus a guide to music business players in each key UK city.
4. The return of the CMU Digest, a weekly round up of all the key news and developments in the world of music.
5. The launch of a brand new service - CMU Upcoming - providing upfront opinion-former information on upcoming tours and releases.
6. The launch of another brand new service - CMU Jobs - a new weekly e-bulletin featuring all kinds of job opportunities.
7. A brand new regular networking event for CMU readers - again bringing together everyone in music, but in the real world.
8. The much anticipated return of the CMU podcast - remember that?
With all of this launching in the next twelve months, as you can see, there's an awful lot going on in the world of CMU. And that's before we talk about what we've got planned for our consumer-facing college music site, CMU Beats. Next month we will publish the results of the aforementioned Readers' Survey - including details on what kinds of music you own, what media you read, what defunct media your most miss, what you think will happen to physical releases, and what brands you most associate with music - plus more information on the developments we have planned for the next twelve months. Look out for more information here in the Daily.
But in the meantime, as you can imagine all these new ventures mean that CMU now has a whole raft of ways that you - as record labels or tour promoters or brand managers - can connect with all the key opinion formers in music. If you want to discuss how we can help you promote your products or releases, or if you are interested in supporting CMU in its bid to provide free news and services to music people at all levels, while discovering and championing great new music, then get in touch - drop an email to [email protected] or [email protected] today.
Meanwhile, I'm off to sing Happy Birthday To Us, while you go read about more releases, festivals, gigs and digital shenanigans, lawsuits, disputes and possible reunions, anniversaries, auctions and acrimonious splits, takeovers, mergers and, as it the way these days, murder. Allegedly. Enjoy.
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CLASSIFIEDS>>
INTERESTED IN SELLING YOUR RECORD LABEL?
Music Gain is acquiring catalogue and merging with record labels. If you are thinking of selling, or are interested in a merger with a long term capital partner, please contact us. Introduction and spotters fees also paid. Please visit us - http://www.musicgain.com
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JOBS N STUFF>>
REGIONAL PRESS OFFICER - WARNER MUSIC
Warner Music is seeking a Regional Press Officer to work a diverse roster of acts. Candidates must have a minimum of two years Regional PR experience. The successful candidate will be highly efficient with strong writing skills, flawless spelling and grammar, and a passion for music. Computer literacy, including confidence with Microsoft Office, is essential. Please send a covering letter and CV to [email protected]
Advertise your vacancies in the CMU Daily for just £80 for five days. To book your space email [email protected].
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MYSPACE OF THE DAY: Mr C
So, hardly a new boy getting the mention in the MySpace Of The Day slot, rather a twenty year veteran of all things house and techno. But that's twenty years almost exactly, which is why I feel a MSOTD nod to Mr C is due. Yep, the ex-Shamen frontman, DJ, producer and The End co-founder is celebrating twenty years behind the decks, and he's planning on celebrating a week on Saturday with a big party at the aforementioned The End in London. He'll be DJing himself, with support coming from special guests Luciano, Get Physical's DJ T and the delicious Dollz At Play. Tickets are £16, or £12 for students, and are available now from http://www.endclub.com or http://www.ticketweb.co.uk. Full info on the party is included in the extensive gig listings here on the MySpace. There's just the one track streaming, but there's a whole load of video clips, including some Shamen classics and an interview, plus plenty of blogging and background type stuff. Definitely go see (the MySpace and the party). And in the meantime, Happy DJing Birthday Mr C.
http://www.myspace.com/mrcsuperfreq
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MOTLEY CRUE MANAGER RESPONDS TO LAWSUIT
Artist manager Carl Stubner and Sanctuary Artist Management, which Stubner heads up, have responded to the lawsuit issued against them by Motley Crue earlier this week. As previously reported, the legendary rock band launched litigation against Stubner, who manages the band's drummer Tommy Lee, claiming that through mis-management the manager had damaged Lee's credibility and therefore the credibility of the band at large, while making the drummer unavailable for lucrative tours, costing the other band members money.
Stubner and Sanctuary's statement stressed in the main that neither he nor the company have any direct management role with regards Motley Crue at large - presumably in a bid to demonstrate that they owe no duty to the band itself and therefore cannot be held liable for any impact Lee's career has on it. The defendants told reporters: "Neither Carl Stubner nor Sanctuary Artist Management Inc (nor any other Sanctuary company) have ever managed Motley Crue or any members of Motley Crue other than Tommy Lee. Mr Stubner and Sanctuary continue to manage Tommy Lee and make no apology for having effectively managed, promoted and furthered Tommy's career with great success. Mr Stubner and Sanctuary will vociferously defend this lawsuit which is utterly and entirely without merit or basis".
However, the band's attorney, Skip Miller, has issued his own statement arguing that, through his association with Lee, Stubner did, in fact, get involved in the wider management of Motley Crue and, therefore, does owe them a duty of care in his role as manager. He told reporters yesterday: "For Mr Stubner to assert, as he now does in response to this lawsuit, that neither he nor his companies have ever participated in the management of Motley Crue is simply absurd. Mr Stubner took part in numerous meetings and conference calls regarding the management of Motley Crue. In fact, Mr Stubner and Sanctuary Artist Management have been paid nearly $1 million in commissions from the band for their management services. Mr Stubner and Sanctuary are now going to have to explain their actions, and the receipt of all these commissions, to a judge and jury".
It is not yet clear when the case will go to court. Sanctuary, of course, is currently subject to a takeover battle, with Universal Music winning the Sanctuary board's support in their takeover bid.
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HOOKIE ON NEW ORDER SPLIT
Peter Hook has been talking about the split of New Order, which has been implied in various previous interviews, mainly with Hookie, but has never been officially announced (or, at least, not that I can remember). He was asked about the split by the Beeb at the Mojo Awards earlier this week. He refused to give a specific reason for the split, accept to say it was for "personal reasons". But he did say that he thought the demise of the band was "sad", saying: "It has been very sad actually, and it has been very difficult to live with, but that is life, isn't it?" It is a shame that New Order are no more, of course. Also a shame that Johnny Marr is busy doing the Modest Mouse thing. With New Order's Bernard Sumner with more time on his hands again, wouldn't it be great if there was an Electronic revival? I was listening to their debut album the other day - I'd forgotten how damn good it was. 'Get The Message' is currently filling the role of "track I name when people ask me what my favourite song ever is".
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A BIT GRIM: SPECTOR TRIAL UPDATE
More graphic information at the ongoing Phil Spector murder trial yesterday, which isn't fun. In fact, it was probably the most graphic information yet. It wasn't the first time the jury had been show grim images of Lana Clarkson after she had been shot dead in Spector's Beverly Hills home, but the latest forensic expert on the witness stand went into much more detail.
Now, I should point out, I'm very squeamish, so excuse me if I don't go into too much detail here. But I can tell you the court room saw images of Clarkson's face with blood oozing from her mouth and nose, while expert Lynn Herold used words like clotting and stringy blood and blood spatter and bodily fluids while pointing at the slide show. Needless to say, Clarkson's mother and sister, in the court room, had to cover their eyes at times, the whole thing no doubt especially distressing for them.
Herold again discussed how the blood was splattered around the room where Clarkson died, adding that the blood would only splatter an area of about three feet as a result of the actual bullet impact, any other blood splatters would therefore have had to have been moved there after the event, dripping off either the gun or a cloth diaper found at the scene, or Spector himself. This contradicts claims by the defence that blood may have been splattered in a six feet radius by the gun shot itself.
Of course, even if the blood outside the three feet radius, and in the hall of Spector's mansion, got there via the gun or cloth, the inference is that Spector himself moved things in the minutes after Clarkson's death. As prosecutor Alan Jackson said yesterday: "The gun doesn't move itself, so he moved it?". To which Herold responded: "That is the inference. I'm assuming no law enforcement personnel moved it".
Herold herself didn't visit the crime scene immediately after the shooting, so is relying on photo evidence and items taken from the crime scene to form an opinion on what happened. The trial will continue today - with Herold expected to be the proseuction's final witness.
As much much previously reported, Spector is accused of shooting Clarkson at his Beverly Hills home in early 2003. Spector claims Clarkson shot herself.
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MARIACHI LEGEND DIES
A leading name from the mariachi music scene has died after a long illness aged 88. Antonio Anguilar recorded over 150 albums and sold over 25 million records in his six decade career, specializing in so called corridos, sung stories that hark from Mexico. He had huge success, especially in the Latin American community, and as well as a reputation for his music he was also reknowned for his work in the interesting domain of charreria (a mix of music and horseback showmanship) and the movies. Paying tribute to Anguilar, a spokesman for his longtime label Musart/Balboa said they had lost "the pillar of our artist roster, and a man of great qualities, as a husband, father and friend".
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GLASTO SHENANIGANS
Michael Eavis has admitted that about seventy people have not received their photo ID'ed tickets for this weekend's Glastonbury Festival, but has said that everyone affected by the lost ticket problem will get access to the g. Organisers are aware of who is affected and will have replacement tickets ready for them when they arrive at the gates. Royal Mail, meanwhile, has said it is carrying our an "urgent investigation" into how the tickets went astray.
Which is good news for all those Glasto-goers yet to get their tickets, though less good news if they are huge MIA fans and are heading to Worthy Farm pretty much exclusively to see her set. Bad news for those people because she's pulled out at the last minute. And without giving any reason. Though it might be down to some kind of mud aversion - as previously reported, the consensus is that it's going to be a wet weekend though, as also previously reported, Eavis is confident a new drainage system will mean no one wakes up to find they are camping in a lake this time.
Assuming the local environment holds up to all that rain and 177,500 pairs of feet, attention at Glasto will be focused instead on global environmental issues. Eco-things are always in vogue at Glastonbury of course, but with eco-things in vogue generally at the moment Glasto is likely to be even more green than ever. As part of that the Eavises - Michael and Emily - have announced they are teaming up with their three partner charities, Greenpeace, Oxfam and Water Aid, in a bid to persuade 100,000 festival goers to sign up to the 'I Count' campaign which, I think, is about people making a pledge to do more to combat climate change.
Assuming that's a success and we're not all killed by rising sea levels and dangerous storms and crippling droughts in the next twelve months, how about looking ahead to the Glastonbury Festivals of the future? Eavis certainly is, telling the BBC that he hopes there'll be at least another decade of Glastos to come: "I'm going to keep on for another 10 years at least I reckon, touch wood and all the rest of it. One day I suppose I will feel my age, will I?" As for next year, Eavis has revealed he's hoping to have Muse as headliners. Admitting he'd been talking to the band for this year before they committed to last weekend's big Wembley gigs, Eavis said: "So I said 'Why don't you put it off till next year?'"
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WOMAD ADDS
More festivals news, why not? This time WOMAD, who have just added 37 more acts to its 25th edition, which takes place on 27-29 Jul at new site Charlton Park, near Bath. Among the new additions are the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Asian Dub Foundation, Ensemble Shanbehzadeh and Vieux Farka Toure. Organisers have also announced that they will be releasing a special CD package at the festival featuring artists who have played WOMAD over its 25 years. Final tracklisting is tbc, but Billboard reports that there will be a 98 page hard back book about the festival with the CD set.
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GUILFEST ADDS
The full line up for this year's GuilFest, which takes place in Stoke Park, Guildford from 13-15 Jul, has now been announced. As previously reported, Supergrass, Squeeze and Madness are headlining this year, but we now know that Richard Thompson, The Saw Doctors and Uriah Heep headline the second Ents24.com stage, while My Vitriol, Reuben, and YourCodeNameIs:Milo will headline the RockSound Rock Cave. Other acts on the bill include The Ordinary Boys, Morcheeba, The Magic Numbers, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Jimmy Cliff, Captain, The Dub Pistols featuring Terry Hall, Crazy P, Duke Special, Charlotte Hatherley, Hell Is For Heroes, Orange Goblin and Pull Tiger Tail. There'll also be some very fine comedy in the eFestivals Cosmic Comedy Tent, which will include Ian Stone, Junior Simpson and Raymond & Mr Timpkins Review. More at http://www.guilfest.co.uk, press info from [email protected].
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GUARDIAN STAGE VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
The Guardian will host a three day virtual festival inside virtual world Second Life next weekend, a JV with Intel. Groove Armada and Pet Shop Boys will appear on the main stage, plus there'll be a dance tent, acoustic stage and "chill-out garden", or virtual, obviously. There'll also be a virtual edition of the Guardian Guide available with full listings info. Whether there'll be a virtual tall person blocking your view, or a virtual group of irritating teenagers chatting loudly next to you, or a virtual two hour queue to the toilets, or a virtual stream running through you tent I don't know. One would hope so.
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TUBULAR BELLS FENDER UP FOR AUCTION
The Fender guitar used by Mike Oldfield in the recording of the 'Tubular Bells' album is going up for auction, and is expected to fetch between £25,000 and £35,000, not least because before Oldfield used it it was owned by Marc Bolan. Oldfield has donated the instrument to be sold on behalf of mental health charity Sane. The Mail On Sunday should buy it and give it away to one of their readers for free.
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FATS DOMINO PIANO DOESN'T SELL
Talking of rock n roll auctions, an online charity auction selling a piano played and signed by Fats Domino closed yesterday with no takers. The opening bid price for the piano, being sold in aid of an organisation helping with the rebuild of New Orleans, was $100,000, but nobody put in a bid at that price. The $100,000 price was picked because the piano itself is said to be worth $60,000 before being signed. A second auction may now be held around the second anniversary of the hurricane that devastated New Orleans, which is at the end of August.
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RHINO RELEASE INDIE GALORE
Warner division Rhino US are planning a four CD box set featuring music from no less than 78 UK indie bands, all released between 1985 and 2000. The mega-compo will feature all the following:
Disc 1
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?
Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
Felt - Primitive Painters
Shop Assistants - Somewhere In China
The Mighty Lemon Drops - My Biggest Thrill
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
Echo & The Bunnymen - Lips Like Sugar
The Jesus And Mary Chain - April Skies
Spacemen 3 - Walkin With Jesus (Sound Of Confusion)
The Primitives - Crash
The Wonder Stuff - Unbearable
The Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums
The Charlatans UK - The Only One I Know
Happy Mondays - Step On
Primal Scream - Loaded [single version]
Inspiral Carpets - This Is How It Feels
The Trash Can Sinatras - Obscurity Knocks
The Las - There She Goes
The Sundays - Heres Where The Story Ends
Disc 2
Ride - Vapour Trail
Pale Saints - Sight Of You
My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow
Lush - For Love
The Telescopes - Flying
Chapterhouse - Pearl
Catherine Wheel - I Want To Touch You
Bleach - Trip & Slide
Curve - Coast Is Clear
Five Thirty - You
Moose - This River Will Never Run Dry
The Family Cat - (Thought I'd Died) And Gone To Heaven
The Dylans - (Don't Cut Me Down) Mary Quant In Blue
Thousand Yard Stare - 0-0 AET (No Score After Extra Time)
Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Grey Cell Green
Birdland - Shoot You Down
Manic Street Preachers - Stay Beautiful
Teenage Fanclub - Star Sign
Disc 3
Suede - Metal Mickey
Swervedriver - Duel [radio edit]
Eugenius - Breakfast
Superstar - Barfly
New Order - Regret
James - Laid
Nick Heyward - Kite
The Boo Radleys - Lazarus
Saint Etienne - You're In A Bad Way
Stereolab - Wow & Flutter
Blur - Tracy Jacks
Oasis - Live Forever
Pulp - Common People
These Animal Men - Speeed King
Mega City Four - Wallflower
Echobelly - Insomniac
Gene - Sleep Well Tonight
Menswear - Sleeping In
Supergrass - Alright
Cast - Alright
Elastica - Stutter
Disc 4
Dodgy - In A Room
Ash - Girl From Mars
Sleeper - Sale Of The Century
Marion - Sleep
Kula Shaker - Tattva
Ocean Colour Scene - The Riverboat Song
Babybird - You're Gorgeous
The Bluetones - Slight Return
Super Furry Animals - Something 4 The Weekend
The Divine Comedy - Something For The Weekend
Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha
Silver Sun - Service
Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Mansun - Wide Open Space
Hurricane #1 - Step Into My World
The Verve - Lucky Man
Rialto - Untouchable
Catatonia - Mulder And Scully
Placebo - You Don't Care About Us
Gay Dad - Oh Jim
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NEW KULA SHAKER
The reformed Kula Shaker have confirmed that they will release a new album on 27 Aug. It will be called 'Strangefolk' and will be the band's first long player since 1999's 'Peasants, Pigs And Astronauts'. Single 'Second Sight' will come out on 13 Aug.
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NEW UNDERWORLD
Underworld also return this year, with a new album, 'Oblivion With Bells', coming in October. The release will coincide with a world tour, which will include these here UK dates:
8 Oct: Southampton, Guildhall
9 Oct: Birmingham, Academy
10 Oct: Norwich, UEA
12 Oct: Newcastle, Northumbria University
13 Oct: Glasgow, Academy
14 Oct: Nottingham, Rock City
16 Oct: Manchester, Apollo
17 Oct: London, Roundhouse
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NEWSCORP TALKING TO YAHOO! RE MYSPACE DEAL
Word has it that Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp are in talks with Yahoo! re some kind of deal whereby the web firm would get ownership of one time social networking site of the moment MySpace in return for giving the Murdoch empire a 25-30% stake in their company. And it's the Murdoch owned The Times reporting on this, so presumably there is some truth in the rumours. According to the Times if a deal of that kind went ahead it would value MySpace at $10-11 billion. The discussions have apparently been going on for a while. How involved Yahoo chief Terry Semel has been, and whether his previously reported departure from the CEO role will affect the deal, is not known.
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V2 SIGNS UP TO WE7
London based independent V2 has announced it has signed up to the previously reported new ad funded download service led by Peter Gabriel, We7. The deal will see music from V2's whole back catalogue, which includes music from the likes of Stereophonics, Elbow, The Rakes, Mercury Rev, Underworld and Bloc Party, made available to the new download service, which will make DRM free MP3s available for free, carrying short ten second ads that play the first few times a track is played.
Confirming their involvement in We7, V2 Head Of Digital And Business Development, Beth Appleton, told CMU: "We are very pleased to be one of the first labels to sign with We7. We7 are driving a new business model for the music and the entertainment industry. Online environments, such as We7, where music fans can enjoy music when they want, where they want, as they wish, where the experience to the music fan feels free and fun but critically labels and artists are being paid through a share of advertising is a business model for the future. V2 are very pleased to be an initial partner with We7".
We7 CEO and co-founder Steve Purdham added: "We're thrilled to have V2 on board. Historically they have been pioneering in their adoption of digital music, and we're pleased they see the same potential for We7 model as we do. We look forward to a fruitful future with them and hope this is the start of a strong relationship as we continue to grow the We7 catalogue for our users".
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IMEEM LAUNCH NEW MUSIC SERVICE
Social networking types Imeem have launched their ad funded music service which puts adverts next to music being shared via the social networking platform, and, thanks to a hook up with SnoCap, which also monitors what tracks are being streamed so that a cut of the revenues from the ads can be distributed to the appropriate content owner. It will be interesting to see if the new system will placate Warner Music, who began legal action against Imeem last month claiming that the social networking company had completely failed to introduce any filtering technology that controls the distribution of unauthorised content via their platform. Indies like Nettwerk, Beggars and Matador Records are all signed up to the new service.
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CORDLESS AND RYKODISC MERGE
Warner Music Group are merging the US based digital-only label they launched in 2005, Cordless Recordings, with Rykodisc, the former independent music company acquired by Warner early last year. The move is, the major says, designed to give Cordless access to Rykodisc's staff and distribution network while enhancing Rykodisc's digital offering. Warner insist the merger is not part of the downsizing restructuring it has been undertaking for much of the year, but rather a move to increase the strengths of both divisions.
However there will be at least one staff reduction following the merger, with the announcement that Cordless' President, Jason Fiber, is leaving to return to the reissues label he founded, Superfecta, though that label's releases will now be distributed via Ryko, so he will maintain a connection with the merged division. Cordless founder Jac Holzman will continue to work as Founding Chairman for the digital imprint, in addition to his other role as a senior advisor to Warner Music's overall chief Edgar Bronfman Jr.
Cordless' A&R chief Ruby Marchand will become Head Of A&R for Rykodisc, where he will work with Slim Moon, the founder of indie Kill Rock Stars who joined Warner last year as an A&R exec for Nonesuch. Moon will now be Senior Director Of A&R And Artist Development for the revamped Rykodisc.
Commenting on the changes, Marchand told reporters: "Both Cordless and Rykodisc share a commitment to developing artists in a progressive environment that encourages experimentation ... It is a privilege to work with Slim in bringing Rykodisc back to its cutting edge roots, especially knowing that we'll have the brain trust of the Cordless team helping us move forward in the digital world".
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IRISH EQUITY TYPES BIDDING FOR CHRYSALIS RADIO
An Irish private equity outfit called Lydian Capital Partners is reportedly in exclusive talks to buy Chrysalis Radio, which owns the Heart, Galaxy and LBC stations. The Chrysalis Group, which also owns the Chrysalis publishing catalogue, has been looking into the possibility of selling its radio assets for a while now while undertaking an internal review of its business. The Guardian reports that the asking price is likely to be between £175m and £177m and that a deal could be announced as early as tomorrow.
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MAGIC MARKETING MANAGER GOES SMOOTH
GMG Radio has announced it has appointed Susan Brown, formerly Senior Marketing Manager at EMAP's Magic 105.4, to the position of Marketing Manager at Smooooooooth Radio London. Don't go saying we didn't tell you.
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MORE WINEHOUSE BOND THEME RUMOURS
Talk has already begun regarding who should provide the theme to the next Bond film, and an unofficial campaign has begun lobbying for Ms Amy Winehouse to be awarded the honour. And word has it 007 composer David Arnold is a bit of a fan, so she could be on the shortlist. Contactmusic quote Arnold thus: "Amy Winehouse had the best record of last year. I haven't asked her yet, but I think she'd be good, although Bond songs can be a bit of a war zone". Winehouse was rumoured to be in talks with Bond music chiefs last year re recording the track for the 22nd Bond flick, due to be released next year, though those rumours were denied at the time.
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TIMBERLAKE DENIES MUIRFIELD BAN
Justin Timberlake has brushed off rumours that he was banned from an exclusive restaurant in Scotland. Certain sources reported last month that the singer had been banned from the restaurant at Muirfield golf club in Gullane near Edinburgh, though other reports were more constrained saying he was simply refused admission because he wasn't dressed appropriately. But Timberlake says neither stories are true. He's told reporters: "After we finished playing they asked if we wanted to stay but we didn't know there was a place to eat so I didn't come equipped or clothed to eat. I didn't want to cause a problem but I wasn't banned". He should have given us a call, there's a brilliant pub we could have recommended just next to Gullane golf course. Ah, hot sunny days eating lunch on the edge of Gullane golf course. Happy days.
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SPICE GIRL REUNION MEMO REVEALED
A memo from Simon Fuller revealed in the Sun this week reportedly details plans for the much talked about but never materializing Spice Girls reunion. The note apparently includes conditions that will be put on the former Girls should a lucrative reunion go ahead - which includes not getting pregnant, because that would get in the way of a suggested world tour. Other instructions apparently include: "do not talk about money", "talk about memories of the Spice Girls with affection" and "do not get into spats between yourselves over plans and decisions - is it worth it?". Apparently Mel C has finally said she will consider Spice Girl reunion plans, though personally I won't believe that until she comes to CMU HQ herself and tells me that while tied up to a polygraph. I've lost count of how many Spice Girls reunion stories we've run in the last five years. Well, I was never really counting, but I'm sure it's a lot.
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A QUICK QUIZ
Hey, back in the old days we used to have a quick quiz question in the Daily - remember that? Back on the 21 Jun 2002 we said this: "The Doors had a hit with it in 1967, Will Young in 2002 - name eight other artists who released cover versions of 'Light My Fire' in between". The Will Young cover was quite new then, you understand. Go on, have a go, and no peeping back at the answer in the CMU Daily archives. We'll tell you the answer tomorrow.