| CMU Daily - on the inside Thursday 24th April |
|
In today's CMU Daily:
- EMI downsizing begins in US radio promotions
- TI banned from speaking at Atlanta schools
- Red Bull Academy deadline looming
- First Beatles Day announced
- Court to reveal that John Lennon took drugs
- Madonna's adoption hearing delayed
- Winehouse and Doherty are heroes
- Amy and Blake to write book?
- Former Libertines write musical
- U2 reveal new album
- Kate Nash to go punk
- Nine Inch Nails release free single
- Catholic priests signed by Sony
- Brian Ferry to appear on Trentmoller album
- Dizzee Rascal's suicide song
- Universal move to avoid Fiddy game chart battle
- Alex Turner on his bands
- Bestival sells out
- Acts announced for T4 on the beach
- EMI Publishing make US promotions
- Snapper launch prog rock label
- Smooth has to keep the jazz
- No partying for Gallagher brothers
- Sandi Thom partied too hard
- TV show makes Lily fat
- Jackson on gay type stuff
--------------------------------------------------
TOP BIT - CMU SOCIAL MAY
So, April is speeding away even as we speak, which means another edition of the CMU Social - the May edition, no less - is just around the corner. Yes, the second edition of our new monthly social type gathering for CMU Daily readers takes place on Tuesday 6 May at 229 next to Great Portland Street tube station in London.
As you all surely remember, the CMU Social is the night where we encourage everyone working in music (well, those within strolling, bussing or tubing distance of 229) to join us, catch up with Team CMU, and to meet, greet, chat, cheer, network, socialise and all sorts of other fun sounding verbs.
And while you're there, you get to enjoy some music from the artists Team CMU rate most highly. And this month we have a band we rate very very highly. And you might say "but CMU, you highly rate everything signed to Mark Jones' Wall Of Sound label", and while that is a not entirely false statement (he just keeps signing loads of our favourite artists), we are especially excited about these WoS singings.
In fact, we've been excited about A.Human ever since we first stumbled across them last year, and have been getting increasingly excitable since we saw the release of their debut album 'Third Hand Prophecy' arrive on the release schedule for 5 May. Someone called these guys' music 'shock n roll', which isn't a term I'd normally condone, but in this case I'll let it pass. If you like things synthy and bassy and a little bit mad, then this is an album to track down, and this is a CMU Social set you just have to see.
The Social, of course, is free to CMU Daily readers. To come you need to send an email with your name and the names of any guests you plan to bring to [email protected] - do it now! And keep an eye on the Top Bit where we will be announcing all sorts of other CMU Social goodies in the coming week, including the chance to prove your superior pop knowledge.
--------------------------------------------------
JOBS N STUFF
PART-TIME PROMOTIONS ASSISTANT REQUIRED
Internet savvy promotions assistant required for new and expanding dance music promotions company based in London. Clients include DFA, Modular and Domino. Working 2-3 days a week, you will assist with our online promotions and other club, radio and artist management duties. You must be bright, articulate, extremely organised and have an excellent attention to detail, plus a REAL interest in electronic music and new media. Previous administration experience would be an advantage. To apply, please send your CV and covering letter explaining why you think you'd be good for the job to [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------
SNAP OF THE DAY: FRIGHTENED RABBIT
Glaswegian band Frightened Rabbit have a new album out and it's brilliant, honest. Actually, to be completely honest, I've only heard the tracks on their MySpace so I can confidently say that at least six tracks of Frightened Rabbit's new record, 'The Midnight Organ Fight', are brilliant. Standout track of six 'The Modern Leper' is, in fact, probably their best work yet, aping Biffy Clyro at the beginning with repetitive downpicking of the guitar, building with pounding drums before the "aaahs" layer the background of the song and it flows into a certifiably Scottish hoe-down. Soul raising and abrasive, it's the very best kind of indie rock, yet full of the kind of macabre humour that fans of Tom Waits et al will appreciate - see "I am ill but I'm not dead, and I don't know which of those I'd prefer. Because that limb which I have lost was the only thing holding me up". Click the link below for your initial investigations.
http://www.myspace.com/frightenedrabbit
--------------------------------------------------
EMI DOWNSIZING BEGINS IN US RADIO PROMOTIONS
As if to respond to recent reports in Billboard and from Reuters that tricky artist and employee contract clauses were throwing a spanner in the works at EMI where chief Guy Hands is busy trying to sack 2000 people, the major restructured its US radio promotion operations yesterday, and showed several plugging types the door.
According to Billboard, among those to go were Virgin Records VP Promotion Dave Reynolds, Virgin Direction Of Promotion Operations Jordan Rosenblatt, several plugging assistants in the major's LA offices, and regional reps in Boston, Chicago and Florida. The trade mag also cite sources as saying that the Capitol Records VP Promotion Greg Thomson, formerly of Universal's Island Def Jam, has been promoted to corporate level and will lead all the major's US wide promotion operations, except, for some reason, for EMI Christian, possibly because God doesn't like him.
As previously reported, Hands has said he will cut 2000 jobs at EMI - a third of his staff - in the first half of the year as part of his radical overhaul of the music firm. The original plan was to have the restructure done and dusted before the summer, though some are reporting that the downsizing is behind schedule, though EMI say everything is proceeding as planned.
--------------------------------------------------
TI BANNED FROM SPEAKING AT ATLANTA SCHOOLS
Hip hopper TI, who is doing a lot of talking to kids about the dangers of drugs, guns and gangs as part of his community service in relation to that previously reported recent gun conviction, has been banned from talking at two schools in his home town of Atlanta.
Representatives in the Fulton County school district say that they have banned the rapper from giving official talks at their schools because of his conviction, even though the sentence for the conviction was giving such talks. Officials in the Cobb County school district say they have also stopped a TI talk going ahead, but say they haven't banned him from talking altogether, but that they don't think it is currently appropriate because of recent gang activity which has led to the death of one student.
--------------------------------------------------
RED BULL ACADEMY DEADINE LOOMING
The deadline is looming for the tenth year of the Red Bull Music Academy, the music education programme which gives aspiring musicians the chance to learn from all sorts of fine music types - past lecturers include Gilberto Gil, Tony Allen, Derrick May, Bob Moog, Biz Markie, Mulatu Astatke and The Mizell Brothers. The Academy takes place in a different city around the world each year, and this year will be in Barcelona. If you are interested in applying, the deadline is 5 May, so you better go download an application form now - cos there's rather a lot of questions and you might have to swot up on your Don Quixote. Details at http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com
--------------------------------------------------
FIRST BEATLES DAY ANNOUNCED
Now, I'm assuming a few of you out there are fans of this band called The Beatles. And presumably you spend much of your time wondering what day of the year you should celebrate your love of the band. Well, wonder no longer. The first annual Beatles Day will be held in Liverpool on 10 Jul. The date has been chosen because it marks the 44th anniversary of the band's return to Liverpool after their first tour of America (obviously).
To mark the day, thousands of mop-top wigs and inflatable guitars will be on sale across the city, and local shops will be encouraged to decorate their premises with Beatles memorabilia. Local radio stations will play the Fab Four's songs on heavy rotation all day and listeners will be able to phone in with their stories and memories. Like how my Mum sat behind John Lennon's first wife Cynthia at primary school. I must remember to get Radio City's phone number before 10 Jul.
Various fundraising events will also take place, with money raised going to various charities (though none of the ones Heather Mills works with, we assume).
--------------------------------------------------
COURT TO REVEAL THAT JOHN LENNON TOOK DRUGS
More Beatles news, now. Controversial film footage of John Lennon smoking marihuana and discussing the use of other drugs will be the subject of a court case, set to begin in Boston on 30 Apr. Don't worry, though. Lennon's not in any trouble. The Boston court's jurisdiction doesn't stretch quite that far. Rather, his widow, Yoko Ono is taking on Massachusetts-based company World Wide Video over copyright ownership of the tape.
Nine hours of footage, currently held by World Wide Video, was filmed in February 1970 and also shows Lennon composing the songs 'Remember' and 'Mind Games'. The video company want to release a two hour film they have compiled using the footage, called '3 Days In The Life'. However, Yoko and her lawyers are claiming copyright ownership of the tapes, while World Wide are counter-suing for copyright infringement. Expect more as the case gets underway.
--------------------------------------------------
MADONNA'S ADOPTION HEARING DELAYED
As expected, the court hearing to finalise Madonna's adoption of little David Banda has been delayed after the singer requested a postponement from Malawi's high court due to the fact that she had to deal with the important business of travelling to the US to promote her album. A court official told reporters that the date for the hearing would now be 15 May "unless her lawyers ask for another date".
It sounds to me as though it's a bit of a formality, really. The Malawian government has recommended that the adoption go ahead, and Banda has been with the Madonnas now for the best part of two years.
--------------------------------------------------
WINEHOUSE AND DOHERTY ARE HEROES
Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty have topped a poll conducted by Sky.com, which sought to find the ultimate hero and heroine (note the 'e' there). Amongst under 25's, Winehouse came out as top of the women's list, ahead of Princess Diana, while Doherty was beaten into second place for top man by footballer Stephen Gerrard.
Amongst the general population (where the list was not split by gender), Winston Churchill and Elvis Presley (both of whom were drug users, I feel I should remind you) were voted into the first and second slots, respectively.
Psychologist Donna Dawson said of the findings: "The results show that what society defines as a 'hero' and a 'heroine' seems to differ greatly. The majority of the top 10 women chosen, such as Diana, Princess of Wales and Amy Winehouse, seem to portray a certain sense of vulnerability or have had to fight against some adversity in their lives. By comparison, the male heroes are generally much stronger, dominant figures, and with the exception of Churchill, are known for their talent, rather than their personality or the impact they have had on the world. While we seem to admire male icons, we seem to need to identify with our female ones".
--------------------------------------------------
AMY AND BLAKE TO WRITE BOOK?
I wish The Sun would make its bloody mind up. Last week Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder Civil had split up, this week they're writing a book together. Anyone would think they're making this stuff up. Anyway, The Sun have revealed that everyone's favourite husband and wife team have been offered £1 million to write a book together, and are now in talks with publishers Penguin. One of those handy anonymous sources said: "They are prepared for it to be warts and all".
--------------------------------------------------
FORMER LIBERTINES WRITE MUSICAL
Amy and Blake aren't the only ones working on projects across prison walls. Former Libertines bandmates Pete Doherty and Carl Barat are working on a musical for the Donmar Warehouse, a small but influential theatre in London, whose recent productions have starred Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow. It is believed that the story of the show will follow the ups and downs of an up-and-coming rock group - something they know plenty about.
A spokesperson for the Donmar Warehouse said: "We are excited to be engaging with such brilliant talent". Barat added that, although they have been told that there are "no deadlines attached", expectations for the show are high. He said: "The theatre wants lots of new songs, We'll probably have to write about 20. But first we have to sit down and think about the rock n roll story".
--------------------------------------------------
U2 REVEAL NEW ALBUM
U2 guitarist The Hedge has revealed that his band have been working on the follow-up to their 2004 album 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' for the last year, but so far everything they've done has been rubbish. Well, that's not quite what he said, it was more along the lines of 'we've been messing around so far and now we're getting down to it'. Tell you what, interpret his own words for yourself: "We went into this project allowing ourselves the indulgence of making music without thinking about where it was going to end up. We're starting to get serious now".
--------------------------------------------------
KATE NASH TO GO PUNK
According to Gigwise, Kate Nash is experimenting with a punk sound for her second album, the follow-up to last year's poppy 'Made Of Bricks'. The singer also revealed recently that she has taken up playing drums. "I really like playing drums because you can get everything out. It's a really great thing to do - just beat it all out," she told the Daily Star. "To be able to achieve getting a rhythm is a real challenge".
--------------------------------------------------
NINE INCH NAILS RELEASE FREE SINGLE
What with that Saul Williams album he produced and his recent 'Ghosts I-IV' instrumental album, it seems that Trent Reznor has got a taste for giving music away for free. This week he's put out a brand new Nine Inch Nails single called 'Discipline'. It's available right now from the official NIN website http://www.nin.com.
--------------------------------------------------
CATHOLIC PRIESTS SIGNED BY SONY
SonyBMG have signed up a trio of Roman Catholic priests for a not too shabby £1million, which is interesting. Known as The Priests, the trio, made up of Father Eugene O'Hagan, 48, his brother Martin, 45, and their former school friend David Delargy, 44, plan to give any money they make to charity.
All three men work in parishes in the Northern Ireland diocese of Down and Connor, so have been given a special exemption in their recording contract allowing them to take time off from promotional duties when they need to preside at funerals and suchlike. Fr Martin said: "Our work means a great deal to us. We are priests first and foremost. Our work will be at the heart of our plans".
Fr David added: "Singing is very much what we do. This is bringing it to a wider audience. We are singing sacred music, continuing what we have always been doing".
Nick Raphael of SonyBMG imprint Epic Records, who signed the trio, said: "Their voices are incredible. I'm extremely excited. They're going to be wonderful global superstars".
--------------------------------------------------
BRIAN FERRY TO APPEAR ON TRENTMOLLER ALBUM
According to Gigwise, techno star Anders Trentemoller has said that Brian Ferry is going to sing on his next album. The website quote the Danish musician as saying: "Bryan Ferry is going to sing on the next album, which is quite fun. I think it was his management that wrote to me that Bryan wanted me to remix an old Roxy Music track and if I did it for free he wanted to sing on my next album, so I said yeah, that's a cool deal!"
--------------------------------------------------
DIZZEE RASCAL'S SUICIDE SONG
Dizzee Rascal has recorded a new track dedicated to a close friend who committed suicide a few years ago, and will release it on 19 May as a video download. Proceeds from the release of 'Dean' will be donated to CALM (The Campaign Against Living Miserably).
Dizzee sings: "Death hits all of us one day/ I wish I never had to hear your spirit run away. Your death was fucked up/ Because it weren't anticipated. I heard they found your body in three parts/ You left behind a lot of broken hearts. Sometimes I hate this fucking world there ain't no denying it/ 'Coz living life ain't easy but I'm still trying."
--------------------------------------------------
UNIVERSAL MOVE TO AVOID FIDDY GAME CHART BATTLE
If 50 Cent has learned anything of late, it's be wary of entering into high profile "if I don't win this I'll quit music" chart battles with rival hip hoppers - him having lost such a battle against Kanye West.
Which is presumably why he has been so keen to not have his hip hop collective G-Unit release their new album on the same day as the new long player from former G-Uniter and ongoing rival The Game. Fiddy's solution to that potential problem was to exercise his influence within the Universal Music Group and pressure the powers that be to move The Game's release date - both G-Unit and their former bandmate releasing their music via Universal divisions.
Much safer than letting the record buying public decide, I suppose, though not necessarily any easier a battle to win. The Game's people were insisting earlier this week, after Fiddy told MTV he might stamp his feet at Universal, that they wouldn't tolerate a release date change just to placate the G-Unit.
But the latest word via AllHipHop.com is that Universal have moved the release date for both releases, which sounds like the political thing to do. G-Unit's 'Terminate On Sight' has a provisional US release of 1 Jul, while The Game's 'LAX' will arrive in record shops on 8 Jul.
--------------------------------------------------
ALEX TURNER ON HIS BANDS
Arctic Monkey Alex Turner has told 6Music that his primary band are to spend this summer working on a third album, the follow up to 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'. Indicating that the group recorded six tracks back in January, Turner said: "We're going to take it easy and start practicing over the summer and doing new stuff. We did a little thing in January and it was almost tempting to go again 'cos it was dead exciting but we thought, 'No, take it easier, chill out a bit and consider'".
It was also revealed that his second project with The Rascals' Miles Kane, The Last Shadow Puppets, won't tour until the autumn, despite the fact that album 'The Age Of The Understatement' is out now.
Kane confirmed: "We're going to play live at the end of the year, in October. The Rascals' album is out June 9. We start doing loads of gigs now and festivals over the summer and September. Take a couple of weeks off then me and (Turner) will do four gigs in England, a few in Europe and a couple in America. Then I want to do a second Rascals album in November".
--------------------------------------------------
BESTIVAL SELLS OUT
Good news for all of you worried about the state of the festival market - this year's Bestival has sold out all of it's 30,000 tickets just over four months in advance. Celebrating its fifth year, the festival will be headlined by Amy Winehouse, Underworld and My Bloody Valentine and will take place between 5-7 Sep at Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight.
--------------------------------------------------
ACTS ANNOUNCED FOR T4 ON THE BEACH
It's been announced that Lightspeed Champion, Robyn, Scouting For Girls and The Feeling are all to appear at this year's T4 On The Beach. The event, hosted by T4's Steve Jones, Alexa Chung, Miquita Oliver and Rick Edwards, will take place on 20 Jul in Weston Super-Mare, and will, of course, be broadcast live on Channel 4.
--------------------------------------------------
EMI PUBLISHING MAKE US PROMOTIONS
While the jobs cuts are kicking in over at EMI Music US, sister company EMI Music Publishing have been announcing some promotions - as previously reported, the EMI pubbery is likely to avoid any jobs cull. The two promotions in the major's US publishing business were in the music services and licensing department, where Kristin Durie has been promoted to VP Music Services & Licensing, and Jovanka Ciares has been appointed Senior Director of Music Services & Licensing.
The Senior VP for that division, Nancy Weshkof, told reporters: "Kristin and Jovanka have both played an integral role in the success of our licensing operations, and in continually improving the level of service that we provide to our many and varied clients. Both of them are creative and innovative in their approach to licensing, and their promotions are well deserved reflections of their achievements since joining EMI Music Publishing".
--------------------------------------------------
SNAPPER LAUNCH PROG ROCK LABEL
Indie label Snapper Music has launched a new imprint called Kscope Records, which aims to become the modern home of that genre they call progressive rock.
In a statement, the new label says: "In recent years, a growing movement of bands has started to strip the progressive rock genre of its excess and cliches and to re-establish the movement's original desire to experiment with eclectic musical sources and sonic possibilities in order to produce something meaningful in the here and now. The scene has over the years divided into a variety of sub-genres, with acts including Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, Amplifier and Oceansize being deemed 'nu-prog', Muse, Opeth and Mars Volta spearheading the hugely popular 'prog-metal' movement, Rain Tree Crow, No-Man and Air developing 'ambient prog' plus Neon Neon and Dalek establishing the 'prog-hop' genre. Added to the cinematic post-rock of Sigur Ros, Godspeed You Black Emperor plus Tortoise and the soul prog of Lewis Taylor, strands of progressive influence have been instrumental in creating some of the most vital and exciting new music of the last two decades".
The new label will launch next month with albums from its first signings, The Pineapple Thief and No-Man, and a reissue from the aforementioned Grammy nominated prog rockers Porcupine Tree.
Snapper Sales & Marketing chief Johnny Wilks told CMU: "Kscope will introduce a focused and creative home for the continually growing and diverse post-progressive scene. We are delighted with the initial reaction to our first releases and we have some very exciting projects planned for later this year. We are really looking forward to positioning Kscope as the definitive home for this internationally respected genre".
--------------------------------------------------
SMOOTH HAS TO KEEP THE JAZZ
Media regulator OfCom has told the Guardian's radio company GMG Radio that they can't axe jazz programming from their Smoooooooooth Radio stations in London and Manchester, both of which had some off peak jazz programming left over from their original incarnations as Jazz FM.
GMG have announced an intention to launch a new digital radio version of Jazz FM, and hoped that OfCom might let them take jazz off Smooth in return. But the regulator said last month that the launch of the digital service was irrelevant to licence obligations on the two FM services, and reviewed the proposals to cut jazz programming in isolation. They completed that review yesterday, and announced the jazz must stay. The regulator says the jazz programming is an important distinguishing feature between Smooth and other easy listening radio stations. Distinction is important - especially because the Bauer owned Magic are known to be concerned that Smooth are moving more and more into their territory on their patch.
Commenting on the finding, GMG Radio Group Programme Director John Simons told reporters: "We're disappointed at the decision which is a frustration as it's clear to see that this genre of music no longer sits comfortably alongside Smooth Radio's new sound, which the listeners love. We will encourage Ofcom to continue lobbying the DCMS to change the existing legislation which cannot link the consideration of changes to analogue radio to that of proposed changes to DAB services. If this is successful we will reapply for the format change".
--------------------------------------------------
NO PARTYING FOR GALLAGHER BROTHERS
Liam and Noel Gallagher never go out drinking together because they argue so much when they're drunk, according to documentary film maker Ballie Walsh, who produced last year's Oasis film 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down'. He revealed that the band created a "one day on, one day off" rule to avoid friction. "What happened is Noel went out one night and had a rest the next night when Liam went out," he told the NME. He continued: "Well, would I want to go on tour with my brother? No. I think how they manage to keep it working is great. The fact that they've survived this long and they're still doing it, and they go on stage together every night - well it works".
--------------------------------------------------
SANDI THOM PARTIED TOO HARD
The Gallagher Brothers may not be partying together, but Sandi Thom has apparently been doing quite enough for both of them on her own. So she says, anyway. She told The Daily Star: "I partied too much on the road. I can be a bit of a fiend and bit too naughty after a few drinks. When you're young you dream of having success, but when you actually get there it's one big piss-up. Ian [Brown, manager] had to sit me down and say to me, 'You can't get pissed every night like this'. It suddenly became clear I had to stop. He had toured with Happy Mondays but apparently a couple of big nights we had in France were worse than them".
Luckily, all this excess was put to use in a song for her new album. "There's a song on my new album called 'Saturday Night' about partying hard," she said. "It's also about going out on a Saturday, which is purely a British phenomenon". It's true, I've been out on Saturdays in various countries and the streets are always completely deserved, save for a few Brits with cones on their heads.
--------------------------------------------------
TV SHOW MAKES LILY FAT
When they say the TV cameras add 10 pounds, I'm not sure this is what they mean. Lily Allen has blamed the stress of her failed BBC Three chat show for her recent weight gain. Although, I'm not sure you can say a show has failed if it's given a second series. She said: "I don't look great at all. I've put on so much weight with all the stress of my TV show. I'm glad it's over. Now the show is over I am sure I will lose some weight, just naturally as well as exercising in the gym twice a week. I hate fat tummies so I hope it goes by summer."
--------------------------------------------------
JACKSON ON GAY TYPE STUFF
Janet Jackson has said that she'd do Alicia Keys, but that she'd be very miffed if partner Jermaine Dupri turned out to be gay. Well, the questions were a bit loaded, to be honest, so it's not quite the way it looks. Asked who she might have a lesbian fling with, Janet replied: "I think I would pick Alicia Keys. I think she's wonderful".
And if Dupri turned out to be gay? "I'd be upset because I want to be with him! It's so funny because I joke with him, 'It drives me crazy to be a girl sometimes, so in my next life I'm going to come back as a guy, and you're going to be my bitch!'"