INDIES INCREASED MARKET SHARE IN 2011
Three of the major music companies saw their global market share slip slightly in 2011, according to stats from Music & Copyright. According to the survey, Universal Music, Sony Music and EMI all saw their share of the music rights markets decline in 2011 compared to 2010, while Warner Music and the independents saw increases.

That said, Universal Music remains the biggest player in both recorded music and song publishing - having 27.9% of the former and 22.2% of the latter, compared to 28.7% and 22.6% in 2010. Sony Music saw its share slip from 23% to 21.9%, while the Sony publishing venture Sony/ATV went from 12.5% to 11.7%. EMI had a 19.9% share of recordings (down from 20.2%) and 19.3% of publishing (down from 19.7%)

Warner Music - soon to become the mini-major when the two bits of EMI are swallowed up by Universal and Sony (assuming those deals get the go ahead from competition regulators) - will be pleased that its market shares increased, with the Warner labels having a 15.1% share compared to 14.9% a year earlier, while the Warner Chappell publishing company went from 13.9% to 14.1% share.

Both the independent labels and independent publishers collectively increased their market shares in 2011, the former probably due to some key success stories like Adele, the latter likely because of the acquisitive nature of some key well-financed indie publishers, including BMG and Imagem. The indie labels together saw market share rise from 23.2% to 25.2%, while publishing went from 31.4% to 32.6%.

Ironically, this is the one moment in time when everyone will be pleased with these stats. Warner and the indies will be glad they have grown their share, while Universal and Sony will probably both use the fact their market shares slipped slightly as proof they are not out-of-control mega-monsters as they try to convince US and, in Universal's case, EU officials to approve their respective EMI acquisitions.

Anyway, for those who prefer their stats in a list, here they are, 2010 figures in brackets.

Recorded Music
Universal Music 27.9% (28.7%)
Sony Music 21.9% (23%)
Warner Music 15.1% (14.9%)
EMI 19.9% (20.2%)
Independents 25.2% (23.2%)

Published Songs
Universal Music Publishing 22.2% (22.6%)
Sony/ATV 11.7% (12.5%)
Warner Chappell 14.1% (13.9%)
EMI Music Publishing 19.3% (19.7%)
Independents 32.6% (31.4%)

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TUNECORE AND TOPSPIN ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE
Digital distributor TuneCore and direct-to-fan experts Topspin yesterday announced an alliance which will enable the two companies together to offer an end-to-end solution to artists and rights owners looking to get their music into all key digital stores and platforms, while also selling product direct to core fanbase.

The new partnership will see the two firms integrate their technologies later this year, seemingly enabling users to manage digital distribution and direct-to-fan transactions via one platform. Users of either of the two firm's services who don't currently have accounts with the other will also be offered discounts to encourage artists and rights owners to utilise the integrated service.

Topspin has announced a number of alliances of late, though most previous partnerships have been about integrating the company's sell-through system into other content platforms, including YouTube and MTV.

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GREAT ESCAPE NETWORKING SESSIONS CONFIRMED, PLUS VOTE IN YMCAS
More details about the networking sessions at this year's CMU-programmed Great Escape Convention have been announced. As well as the packed schedule of panels, debates and interviews that take place during the UK's premiere music business conference, there are also numerous opportunities to meet, network and do business with other delegates from all over the world.

Three networking sessions will focus on different strands of the industry, with Meet The Distributors (Thursday am), Meet The Agents (Thursday pm) and Meet The Bookers (Friday am). Leading players from the UK distribution, booking agency and gig promotion sectors will be on hand to meet with those delegates interested in these services. Each session will include an hour of formal speed meetings, and an hour of informal networking open to all. For more information and to sign up, anyone with a Great Escape delegates pass should check this page here: www.escapegreat.com/networking

In addition to that little lot, for UK delegates there is UK Trade & Investment's International Networking Sessions on Friday afternoon. As the official blurb says: "Meet a label from Japan, an agent from the States or a festival promoter from China - over 20 key international industry reps are on hand to talk about their markets and how to do business there". Delivered in association with the Association Of Independent Music, UK-based TGE delegates interested in participating in this session should e-mail [email protected].

Finally, on a digital theme, this year's convention programme will include a Digital Pitch Party and Digital Demo Party. At the former on Thursday afternoon, various companies who offer digital services for artists and labels will each make an elevator pitch and take questions via Twitter. Each pitcher will also bring a drink of their choice to the party which they believe represents their company. Once all the pitching is done, more informal networking will take place as all the drink is drunk.

The Digital Demo Party on Saturday afternoon will offer a more relaxed environment where both consumer-facing digital platforms and those offering digital tools for artists and labels can demo their products. Look out for more information of those companies taking part at in the next few days at www.escapegreat.com/networking

Finally from the TGE desk today, the shortlists are out for the Yearly Music Conference Awards. As previously reported, with The Great Escape taking place towards the end of the city-based showcase festival season, and as the music industry prepares to head to the fields for the big summer events, the YMCAs look back at the year just gone. Presented at a ticket-only brunch as part of the final day of the convention, the awards are also a chance for those agents, managers, bookers, business owners and export offices who visit many of these events, not to mention the people who organise them, to come together to eat, drink and be merry, and discuss the highs (and lows) of the music year.

The YMCAs committee has selected the shortlists for all of this year's prizes, and wants the input of music types to decide the winners of eight categories. Shortlists and details of how to vote are online at www.theCMUwebsite.com/ymcas.

The CMU-programmed Great Escape Convention takes place next week from 10-12 May in Brighton, along the 300 artists+ Great Escape festival. For the full convention schedule click here, and for the full Great Escape festival line-up click here. You will also find an overview of the convention programme from CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke here. And delegate passes, if you haven't already got one, are a bargain at £150 and available right here.

escapegreat.com/conversations
escapegreat.com/festival-line-up
www.thecmuwebsite.com/thegreatescape-overview/
escapegreat.com/buy-a-ticket/delegate-tickets

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DAPPY CHARGED OVER PETROL STATION FIGHT
Dappy and three other men have been charged with affray in relation to a fight that seemingly took place at a petrol station in Guildford in February.

The former N-Dubz star was arrested last month, at which time a Surrey Police spokeswoman explained the incident to reporters, saying: "Two girls and three men were outside the garage at 3.30am. They were interrupted by two suspects who had turned up in a car and asked the girls to go with them. The invitation was refused and one of the suspects then spat at one of the girls. As a result an altercation ensued involving the first two suspects and a further group of up to six black and white men who arrived in two further vehicles. The trio of men were assaulted and received serious facial injuries in the attack".

Dappy, who denies the charges, and his fellow defendants have been bailed pending a hearing at Guildford Magistrates Court on 24 May. If found guilty the rapper faces a fine of up to £5000 and up to six months in jail.

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KERRANG! NOMS ANNOUNCED
Kerrang! has announced the nominees for its annual awards. You Me At Six lead the pack with five nominations, including two for Best Single, plus a Best British Band nom for the fourth year in a row. What fun.

The band's frontman Josh Fransceschi said: "To be up for Best British Band four years in a row is just insane. Plus the people at the awards are going to think there's a problem with the slide show when our two songs come up in a row [for best single]!"

Kerrang! editor James McMahon added: "The Kerrang! Awards remains the most important date on any rock star's calendar. What's most exciting about this year's nominations is how strong the new bands categories are. Of course, you could have said the same thing when You Me At Six were included in said categories a few years ago, and look where they are now. Much is made of how fun and debauched the Kerrang! Awards are. I prefer to see them as proof of how strong the rock scene is".

Here are the nominations in full:

Best British Newcomer: While She Sleeps, Yashin, Fearless Vampire Killers, Don Broco, Hawk Eyes

Best International Newcomer: Motionless In White, Tonight Alive, Falling In Reverse, Of Mice and Men, Reckless Love

Best Single: You Me At Six (feat Oli Sykes) - Bite My Tongue, You Me At Six - No One Does It Better, Young Guns - Bones, Black Veil Brides - Rebel Love Song, Falling In Reverse - The Drug In Me Is You

Best Video: Falling In Reverse - The Drug In Me Is You, Mastodon - Curl Of The Burl, Motionless In White - Immaculate Misconception, Paramore - Monster, Bring Me The Horizon - Alligator Blood

Best Album: You Me At Six - Sinners Never Sleep, Enter Shikari - A Flash Flood Of Colour, Young Guns - Bones, Black Veil Brides - Set The World On Fire, Mastodon - The Hunter

Best Live Band: You Me At Six, Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, Enter Shikari, My Chemical Romance

Best British Band: You Me At Six, Bullet For My Valentine, Asking Alexandria, Lostprophets, Iron Maiden

Best International Band: 30 Seconds To Mars, My Chemical Romance, Evanescence, A Day To Remember, letlive

Best TV Show: The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, Game Of Thrones, American Horror Story, Misfits

Best Video Game: Skyrim, FIFA 12, Mass Effect 3, Gears Of War 3, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Best Film: The Hunger Games, The Woman In Black, The Inbetweeners, The Muppets, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Best Comedian: Greg Davies, Russell Howard, Tim Minchin, Noel Fielding, Bill Bailey

Tweeter Of The Year: Danny Worsnop (Asking Alexandria), Jono Yates (Blitz Kids), Sean Smith (The Blackout), Hayley Williams (Paramore), Mark Hoppus (Blink 182)

Hottest Female: Hayley Williams (Paramore), Tay Jardine (We Are The In Crowd), Amy Lee (Evanescence), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Jenna McDougall (Tonight Alive)

Hottest Male: Ben Bruce (Asking Alexandria), Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), Ashley Purdy (Black Veil Brides), Alex Gaskarth (All Time Low), Matt Bellamy (Muse)

Villain Of The Year: Justin Bieber, Simon Cowell, Ronnie Radke (Falling In Reverse), Lou Reed, One Direction

Hero Of The Year: Ronnie Radke (Falling In Reverse), M Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold), Jared Leto (30 Seconds To Mars), Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Rou Reynolds (Enter Shikari)

Best Festival: Download, Hevy Music Festival, Reading and Leeds, Slam Dunk, Hit The Deck

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CHERYL UNVEILS VIDEO
So, Cheryl 'No, Not Cole' Cole has unveiled the 100% complete video for her new Calvin Harris-produced single 'Call My Name', as is first chosen for release from the on-off Girls Aloud star's imminent new LP, 'A Million Lights'.

And what a vid it is, particularly if you're partial to seeing statement jackets, the reservoir racetrack from 'Grease', and MC Hammer-style dance moves done in MC Hammer-style Hammerpants. And tribal tattoos. And the odd dramatic 'mirror sequence'. It has all of those things in it, in lurid abundance.

The promo was filmed in LA by Anthony Mandler, who also directed Rihanna's controversy-causing 'Man Down'. But who cares about that, here's Cheryl's vid:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYT6rbxNn30

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SLY AND REGGIE RELEASING ALTERNATIVE DIAMOND JUBILEE SINGLE
'Middle class' dub merchants Sly And Reggie have heralded the release of 'Dub Save The Queen', their alternative Diamond Jubilee single. Out on 28 May in honour of our reigning monarch's 60th year pon de throne, it features a traitorous dancehall remix of the National Anthem.

Preview the track here: soundcloud.com/sly_and_reggie/dub-save-the-queen-dancehall

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JAKWOB GIVES AWAY FREE MIXTAPE
Hyped dubstep type Jakwob has made a ten track mixtape featuring Ghostpoet, Kano, Roses Gabor and Mr Hudson available for free on his website - www.jakwob.com

'The Prize', as it's titled, is streaming directly beneath these very words, and should precede producer/instrumentalist James Jacob's tbc debut LP, as is tentatively set for release before the year is out.

Jacob says this of Mr Hudson's guest role on the mixtape's title track: "He soulfully talks about a fairly dramatic incident in his life and yet keeps it energetic and hooky. I love the contrast between shimmery tremor strings and the weighty bass. I love how cinematic it is".

soundcloud.com/jakwob/sets/the-prize/

Here's the full tracklist for the mixtape:

Turn To Stone
Slaves (feat 14th
Sailing (feat Roses Gabor)
Stay
Island (feat Ghostpoet)
Please (feat Kano)
Erupt (feat Youngman)
Let It Fall
Feeling The Desire
The Prize (feat Mr Hudson)

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THE XX OPEN TICKET LOTTERY FOR NEW LONDON DATES
The xx have announced a three-date, London-exclusive micro tour, which will serve as a live primer for the band's busy festival season. Given that demand for the shows is anticipated to be high, spaces at each date are available via an online lottery (thexx.info/ticketlottery) closing on 8 May. Successful applicants will be contacted with a code, and can then purchase tickets for their chosen event. This isn't a free-for-all sort of lottery, mind, passes are priced at £19.50 plus a booking fee.

And said dates are:

14 May: Islington, Electrowerkz
15 May Hackney, Chats Palace
18 May Battersea, Battersea Arts Centre

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

BESTIVAL, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight, 6-9 Sep: Frank Ocean and M Ward form a further two acts supplementing Bestival's 2012 submissions, existing examples of which include New Order, Stevie Wonder, The xx, Gary Numan, Justice, Hot Chip and Two Door Cinema Club. In other news, Azealia Banks will still appear at the wildlife-themed festival, despite cancelling the majority of her European outdoor bookings. www.bestival.net

GUILFEST, Stoke Park, Guilford, Surrey, 13-15 Jul: Candi Staton, Buzzcocks and The Undertones are notable amongst GuilFest's latest line-up enlistees, and thus co-occupy the festival's overall bill with Bryan Ferry, Jools Holland, Gary Numan, Tim Minchin and the pop-tastic likes of 'X-Factor' affiliates Tulisa, Cher Lloyd and Olly Murs. www.guilfest.co.uk

LOVEBOX, Victoria Park, London, 15-17 Jun: Groove Armada - who will present an exclusive Saturday night spectacular in honour of their festival's tenth anniversary - are placed topmost on a list of recent Lovebox additions, which also include Maverick Sabre, Crystal Fighters and Saint Saviour. These late line-up arrivals tail the previously announced Grace Jones, Friendly Fires, Crystal Castles, Magnetic Man, Hot Chip and Shy FX. www.lovebox.net

SOUTH WEST FOUR, Clapham Common, London, 25-26 Aug: SW4 issues its fourth roster revelation, promising sets from Max Vangeli & An21, Tim Mason, Brodinski vs Gesaffelstein, Delta Heavy, Loadstar and Jaymo & Andy George. This lot will accompany Pete Tong, Seth Troxler, Maya Jane Coles, Skream & Benga, Flux Pavilion and the weekend's top-billed guest, Skrillex. www.southwestfour.com

UNDERAGE, Shoreditch Park, London, 31 Aug: Ever wonder what the kids are listening to nowadays? If the initial roster for this year's Underage fest (as is open to 13-17 year olds only) is anything to go by, it's Iceage, Spector, Rustie, Summer Camp, Theme Park, Outft and Pulled Apart By Horses. Oh, and Maverick Sabre, apparently. www.underagefestivals.com

WICKERMAN, East Kirkcarswell Farm, Dundrennan, Scotland, 20-21 Jul: Wickerman HQ confirms The Blockheads, Bad Manners, Sharks, The Skints, The Vibrators and Pronghorn amid a spate of ska and punk acts now featuring at its 2012 edition. They join the aforementioned Scissor Sisters, Texas, The View, Newton Faulkner, Cast and Jenny O. www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

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FORMER SUPERVISION MANAGERS TO LAUNCH RED LIGHT LONDON
Two former SuperVision managers will set up a London office for Red Light Management, it has been confirmed. As previously reported, all the key staff at SuperVision, the management division of the HMV-owned MAMA Group, recently announced their intent to leave the live and artist firm, seemingly frustrated with the way HMV has gone about trying to sell the MAMA company.

That James Sandom and Cerne Canning will move over to US-based management group Red Light had been rumoured since earlier this year, and that intent was revealed by Record Of The Day last month. And according to Billboard, Red Light's New York HQ has now confirmed that Sandom and Canning will set up a new London outpost for the company. Meanwhile, a third former SuperVision manager, Deb Fenstermacher, will join Red Light in New York.

The move brings a stack of artists managed by the three managers into the Red Light fold, including: Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, The Vaccines, Crystal Castles, The Cribs, White Lies, Here We Go Magic, Zulu Winter, Deap Vally, Crocodiles and Asobi Seksu.

Two other SuperVision managers, Dave Cronen and Nigel Templeman, have reverted to the agency they ran prior to forming an alliance with MAMA in 2008, Trust Management. As previously reported, there has been chatter that key execs from MAMA's brand partnerships agency are also planning to depart, concerned that they have been kept in the dark about HMV's plans to sell its live division, which the retailer acquired in 2010.

HMV, of course, is looking to raise some much needed cash by offloading the MAMA business. Up to nine players are rumoured to have expressed an interest in buying the profitable firm, including AEG Live, Sony and Oakley Capital, while MAMA's management is also expected to bid. While some bidders will be primarily interested in the group's venue portfolio, others were likely attracted by the interesting combination of MAMA operations - ie management, events, venues and brand partnerships - and for those possible buyers the departure of key execs ahead of any sale will be a concern.

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GALLOWS TO ISSUE LP VIA THEIR OWN LABEL
Gallows are about to release their first new album since 2009's 'Grey Britain', and have even established their own label, Venn Records, to do so. Though so far untitled, the LP is set for a September release in partnership with [PIAS] Recordings.

Appreciative of their independence, the one-time Warner Bros signings have all simultaneously said this: "For the last seven years we have trudged step by step through the dark sewers of music industry. Shaking hands with snakes and signing contracts drafted by thieves with perfect teeth. We are happy to announce that we have become part of the problem. All hail Venn Records".

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RDIO GOES LIVE IN UK
US-based streaming music service Rdio has gone live in the UK and France, according to various reports. Well, I can confirm the former, as I've been listening to music via the web-based streaming platform all morning. French readers will have to go to rdio.com and check it out for themselves.

Like its competitors Spotify, Deezer, Rara.com and Sony's Streaming Flim Flam, Rdio has been expanding rapidly around the world in recent months. It was thought a UK launch might happen in March when it was confirmed the digital firm had secured a licensing deal with PRS For Music to cover publishing rights in various European territories, but while the service did indeed go live in Germany, Spain and Portugal that month, the UK arrival didn't occur.

Although no official announcement regards a UK launch has yet occurred, online chatter that the service was now available here began yesterday. Unlike Spotify there isn't a free ad-funded option with Rdio, though a six day free trial is available for new users.

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APP NEWS: SPOTIFY, DEEZER, MOBILE ROADIE
Ah, a Spotify development without a pointless press conference. Hurrah! Perhaps they are learning. Spotify has updated its iOS app so that it works on iPads as well as iPhones.

When the streaming service announced its recent press event in New York, which it turned out was to reveal a lacklustre sales transaction with Coke, many thought it would actually be used to announce the popular music platform was finally reaching the Apple tablet device. Spotify say that the new iOS upgrade also offers some extra functionality and fixes some past bugs that occasionally caused the app to crash. Of course the option of listening to music via Spotify on Apple mobile or tablet devices is only open to full ten pound a month subscribers.

Elsewhere in app land, We7 has also announced a major update to its free-to-use Pandora-style radio app, available on both iPhone and Android, which allows users to download tracks and themed 'stations' for offline listening, share their favourite stations via social networks, and rate tracks up and down so that the app can learn their musical tastes and deliver songs accordingly.

More appy news from streaming music land, and while Deezer hasn't launched an app today, it has announced the release of an API which will enable other developers to build music-based apps that utilise the streaming firm's system. And not only will app developers have access to Deezer technology and content via the API, if their apps result in any users signing up for an account with the streaming platform, the firm will pay the app maker a £9.99 finder's fee. Two Deezer 'hack days' have been announced in Paris and Berlin on 15-17 May and 6-8 Jul respectively.

And finally from the busy CMU app desk this morning, app maker Mobile Roadie announced earlier this week the launch of two new products - an iPad app kit and mobile website kit - which enables content owners and brands to easily create apps for the Apple tablet or websites designed for consumption via a smartphone's web browser. The tech firm already offers platforms to make it easy to create apps for iPhones and Android devices.

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MU PUBLISHES OPEN LETTER IN SUPPORT OF AXED RADIO SCOTLAND SHOW
The Musicians Union has hit out at BBC Scotland's decision to axe a specialist music show called 'Global Gathering'. Presented by Mary Ann Kennedy, the MU says the radio programme "has played a fundamental and unique role in the musical life of Scotland for over a decade, bringing together the various strands of Scotland's musical identity, from indigenous roots to newest innovation, far flung diaspora to welcomed refugee, community movement to the biggest concert stages".

In an open letter signed by a plethora of musicians, music people and MSPs, supporters of the show say: "Mary Ann Kennedy and producer Sean Purser have been at the forefront of the movement to position Scotland's contemporary music on a global stage - from KT Tunstall's earliest radio sessions to the legacy of the programme's spiritual inspiration, Martyn Bennett; revelling in the successes of Karine Polwart, Lau, Salsa Celtica, thePeatbog Faeries and many others to breaking ambitious new acts such as The Treacherous Orchestra, India Alba and Man's Ruin".

They continued: "[Kennedy and Purser] also connect to the grassroots of Scotland's many communities - from the Balkan diaspora to the country's long-established Asian community and all points round the globe - a vital human connection promoting understanding through music. Without Mary Ann Kennedy's 'Global Gathering', BBC Radio Scotland will have no music programme which adequately reflects the cultural diversity of contemporary Scotland, no female presenters presenting any of their specialist music strands and no specialist traditional music producers in their Glasgow headquarters".

Anger has been brewing in the Scottish music community since the BBC first announced its intent to axe the 'Global Gathering' show back in February. There was originally talk of the programme ending last month, but it's still in the schedules at the moment, so presumably the MU hopes that with a bit of pressure from both the musical and political communities, the show can still be rescued.

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BRITNEY'S PEOPLE FEAR FOR LADY GAGA IN THE WAKE OF THE WANTED'S WRATH
A spokesperson for Britney Spears has responded to The Wanted's recent claims that they were forced to face the wall when she walked past them backstage when they supported her at a show last year.

As previously reported, having branded Christina Aguilera a "total bitch" a few days earlier, the group made the allegations about Britney in a radio interview with New York station Fresh 102.7.

Despite the fact that talking about it apparently breached a "confidentiality thing", the group's Siva Kaneswaran, said: "I was in the hallway with my tour manager. Basically we were looking with a laptop, trying to get wi-fi, facing the middle of the hallway. [Britney's] bouncers came down with her and told us to face the wall. We turned around and I faced a wall for about ten seconds until she got really far away".

Speaking to E! Online, a spokesperson for Spears said: "What's even more interesting than the false allegations they made is the fact that they have claimed to be picked on by two female pop stars in just a few days. Look out Lady Gaga - there are still three days left this week".

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