WHAT IS THIS? The CMU Daily - to which you are subscribed. Unsubscribe information is at the end.
NOTE:
Make sure you 'enable images' to see this e-bulletin properly. CLICK HERE to read this online.
FRIDAY 4 MAY 2012
THE MUSIC BUSINESS WEEK IN FIVE
So, here we are, less than a week away from The Great Escape! Click here for an overview of this year's programme, here for details about networking opportunities, and here to have your say on this year's YMCA awards. And here if you don't yet have a delegates pass. And then we'll see you next week in Brighton - hurrah. Meanwhile, let's recap the music business week just gone more>>
GREAT ESCAPE SPOTLIGHT: BASS DRUM OF DEATH
So I saw fuzz-prone Fat Possum signings Bass Drum Of Death live last year, in Brighton as it happens. With impassive faces buried in 'Southern rock' coiffs, the band proceeded to make a monolith of noise from their one-guitar-one-drumkit set-up in a manner so competent that the phrase 'well rehearsed' didn't quite match the act. And it was great. Understated and over in no time at all, but great more>>
INTRODUCING: TICKETSCRIPT
Ticketscript provides over 30,000 events with a free plug-and-play ticketshop that enables event organisers/promoters to sell tickets and promote events online, through your website, mobile phones and Facebook fan page.

The system arranges the delivery of e-tickets and mobile tickets and provides real-time sales and entrance statistics. Ticketscript also provides event organisers with an entrance management solution which is customised according to the size of the event, making admission to your events quick and simple.

Our clients include: Hed Kandi, Ministry of Sound, The Leadmill, Torture Garden, Field Music, Awakenings, Armin Van Buuren, Chris Liebing, MTV.

Learn how you can take control of your ticketing and promotions visit www.ticketscript.com
TOP STORIES
- Virgin Media instigates first British Pirate Bay block
CHARTS, STATS & POLLS
- Adele's 21 outsells Jackson's Thriller
IN THE STUDIO
- Chris Martin "quite an influence" on new Tinie Tempah album
- Slipknot will record new album next year
RELEASE NEWS
- Becoming Real details debut album
- Biffy Clyro to release double LP
- Depeche Mode discuss new album, may tour next year
- Jedward release unofficial football single
FESTIVAL NEWS
- Festival line-up update
TALKS, DEBATES & CONVENTIONS
- Convention updates: LSC, PrimaveraPro, Eurosonic, YMCAs
BRANDS & STUFF
- Pepsi deals: Jackson estate and Katy Perry
- JLS to launch perfume
THE MUSIC BUSINESS
- Cobain's daughter controls image rights, not Love
THE DIGITAL BUSINESS
- Will.i.am: We need to marry music and science
- Sainsbury's launches MP3 store
AND FINALLY...
- CMU Beef Of The Week #109: The Wanted v Christina, Britney and... Lady Gaga?
FABRIC RECORDS, A&R / PRODUCT MANAGER
We are seeking a self-motivated, proactive individual to help expand fabric Records beyond our compilation series. The successful candidate will have strong artist and industry contacts across all electronic genres, and at least two years record label experience.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
   

9PR, NATIONAL SENIOR PUBLICIST
9PR are looking for a new senior publicist. The ideal candidate will be able to write well and demonstrate examples of quality national print campaigns they've managed. They will be proactive and confident in seeking out new business. Online experience is a bonus.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

   

9PR, JUNIOR PUBLICIST
9PR are looking for a junior publicist. A significant internship or experience as a junior press officer at a reputable music PR company is essential, as is an enthusiasm and knowledge of print and online media. This is a fantastic opportunity for a hardworking, focused individual to start a career in the music industry.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.

   
FRENCH MUSIC OFFICE, PRODUCT MANAGER (LABEL, LICENSING, DISTRIBUTION, PR)
The French Music Office is a non-profit organization and network created in 1993 with the aim to develop French-produced music of all genre around the world and to promote professional exchange between France and other territories. We are looking for a self-motivated, proactive person with strong UK industry and media contacts across all genres, at least 2 years experience in record company / distribution and a passion for French music and a vision for how to secure and develop French artists in the UK scene over the long-term.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
   
WARNER BROS RECORDS UK, NATIONAL RADIO PROMOTIONS MANAGER
Home to many of the greatest names in music, Warner Bros Records UK is a leading, uniquely dynamic record label. This opportunity to join the WBR Promotions Team as National Radio Promotions Manager involves taking on responsibility for a section of the labels roster across all the national radio stations. Our roster is diverse and eclectic - so a real passion for and understanding of music and radio is essential.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
INTRODUCING: MANAGING A MUSIC BUSINESS ENTERPRISE COURSE
This unique fast-track course covers the A-Z of the music business in sixteen classes over four months. Each day long class covers a specific area of knowledge.

Ideally suited to young entrepreneurs starting out in the music business; those who are changing careers or graduates from other fields our accredited course will give you a fuller understanding of copyright, management deals, labels, contracts, live industry & touring, publishing and all other related areas, delivered via informal face-to-face classes.

Every session features a guest presentation from an established expert in their field, themselves currently working in the UK music business. We also focus heavily on social media, mobile and apps with specific lectures as well as focusing on the 'DIY' model, offering new ways of developing fans and revenue streams.

At the conclusion of the course successful candidates will receive a full accreditation; Managing a Music Business Enterprise (MMBE), recognised by leading trade organisations and employers.

Find us at The Great Escape, for a special 'last-minute' booking price.

See our website for TGE details; prices start at £495.

Next course starts on 30th May, followed by, final course in 2012; 5th September.

VIRGIN MEDIA INSTIGATES FIRST BRITISH PIRATE BAY BLOCK
Virgin Media has become the first British internet service provider to block access to invariably controversial file-sharing website The Pirate Bay. As previously reported, on Monday the High Court in London passed injunctions, at the request of record label trade body the BPI, ordering five ISPs to instigate blocks against the Bay, so that when their customers try to access the web service they instead see a notice alerting them to the fact said website is blocked for copyright reasons.

Sky, Everything Everywhere, TalkTalk and O2 have all also been ordered to block access to the Bay in the next few weeks, and an injunction ordering BT to do the same is expected to be issued in due course (BT asked for a few more weeks to respond). The injunctions followed a court ruling earlier this year that said that The Pirate Bay is liable for the copyright infringement it enables, even though no unlicensed content actually passes through its servers; and also utilised a precedent set in the Newzbin case last year, where a judge decided that, under existing copyright law, web-block injunctions could be obtained where infringing web services were based outside the jurisdiction of the English courts.

Virgin and Sky have generally been more helpful to content owners looking to crack down on file-sharing that other net firms, mainly because with their own subscription movie services they have a vested interest in combating online piracy once it's films being illegally downloaded. BT and TalkTalk have generally been the most resistant to taking on any obligations to police infringing customers.

Confirming it had already instigated a Pirate Bay block, a spokesman for the Virgin cable TV and net firm told reporters: "Virgin Media has received an order from the courts requiring it to prevent access to The Pirate Bay in order to help protect against copyright infringement. As a responsible ISP, Virgin Media complies with court orders addressed to the company but strongly believes that changing consumer behaviour to tackle copyright infringement also needs compelling legal alternatives, such as our agreement with Spotify, to give consumers access to great content at the right price".

Of course, as much previously noted, all web blocks are circumventable for anyone who knows what they are doing, and since the Bay blocks were announced earlier this week various web pages have appeared telling the less tech-savvy how they can still access the Pirate Bay service once piratebay.org takes them to a 'stop nicking our content you bastards' holding page. Meanwhile the extra media coverage the blocks secured the rogue file-sharing site apparently resulting in a significant uplift in traffic for the service.

Lobby groups which are pro-file-sharing and/or anti-copyright-enforcement (or, anti what they perceive to be heavy-handed enforcement), will point to the ease with which web-blocks can be circumvented by those in the know as a reason why injunctions of this kind should never be allowed, adding that the cost and supposed censorship risks such blocks cause outweigh the limited returns they deliver in terms of combating file-sharing. They might also add that if the rights owners licensed more digital services, and ensured their entire catalogues were available by already licensed platforms, and addressed pricing concerns, then more casual file-sharers would probably go legit anyway.

And, of course, some of those are valid arguments, and raise issues the music and movie industries still need to address. Though more pragmatic rights owners would probably argue that, while there will always be a community of file-sharers who will continue to file-share, the aim here is to encourage mainstream web-users to only use legit services, and the way to do that is to both make sure those services are brilliant, engaging and easy to use, but also to do what you can to make the unlicensed options an arse to use. Which is really what web-blocking is about.

back to top


ADELE'S 21 OUTSELLS JACKSON'S THRILLER
So, Adele's '21' has now outsold Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' to become the fifth biggest selling album of all-time in the UK, and she did it without a death-induced burst of nostalgia-buying. Imagine what she could achieve if she died in suspicious circumstances.

Confirming '21' had now outsold 'Thriller' by over 500 units, Official Charts Company top man boss chief Martin Talbot told CMU: "To add to her many landmark records, Adele's achievement in overtaking 'Thriller' in the all-time sales list is truly remarkable. 'Thriller' has long been recognised as one of the most iconic albums of all time - there is now no doubt that '21' can be spoken of in the same breath".

You know, whenever the sales/ratings for new things are compared to the sales/ratings of old things, I do wonder just how accurate the stats were back in the day before bar code scanning and generally-pretty-damn-accurate download-store report sheets were the norm. Though presumably labels new how many records were returned from the record shops, even when not everyone chart returned.

Anyway, well done Adele, what a lot of numbers you've achieved. And here, as of yesterday, are the five best selling albums of all time in the UK, according to the good old OCC:

1. Queen - Greatest Hits (1981)
2. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band (1967)
3. Abba Gold - Greatest Hits (1992)
4. Oasis - What's The Story Morning Glory (1995)
5. Adele - 21 (2011)

back to top


CHRIS MARTIN "QUITE AN INFLUENCE" ON NEW TINIE TEMPAH ALBUM
Tinie Tempah has said that Coldplay's Chris Martin has had "quite an influence" on the recording of his second album.

Saying that various people have "listened to something or even mentored" him on the direction of his second longplayer, Tempah told NME: "Chris Martin has been quite an influence on this album. It's definitely a lot more progressive in the quality of the sound. I've [also] been listening to Lykke Li and Lana Del Rey, the dynamics of the sound, how big and anthemic it gets".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

SLIPKNOT WILL RECORD NEW ALBUM NEXT YEAR
Slipknot will begin work on their fifth album, the follow-up to 2008's 'All Hope Is Gone', next year, the band's DJ Sid Wilson has told NME.

Plans to record were put on hold after the death of bassist Paul Gray in 2010, and for a time there was some dispute amongst band members about the entire future of the project. Despite assurances from some in the group that they would continue to record together again, frontman Corey Taylor remained reticent, saying that festival shows last summer were "dipping the toe in the water to see what happens".

But Wilson says now that following their upcoming performances as part of this year's Mayhem touring festival and Taylor's pending tour with his other band, Stone Sour, they will get back to the studio.

Wilson said: "We've got Mayhem Festival this summer and, after we break for winter and Stone Sour are done with their tour, we'll be back in the kitchen with Slipknot. Actually before Stone Sour finish touring we'll be in the studio preparing for Corey's return, keeping the irons hot".

He added: "It'll be tough, it won't be easy, but Slipknot's the biggest thing in all of our lives, and we're always going to come back to it. We're going to get it done. I'm excited and I'm ready to do it. I'm sick of hearing people talk, it's time for action. When we come together, it's badass; we need to harness that energy of the live shows. When we come together like we always do, it's going to be brutal".

back to top


BECOMING REAL DETAILS DEBUT ALBUM
Having posted a precedent in 'Snow Drift Love' back in March, the CMU approved Becoming Real has shared notes on the mini-album from which that track was taken, aka his forthcoming release 'Solar Dreams/Neon Decay'.

Out on 28 May via Not Even, it will feature the following:

Snow Drift Love
Lady Lazarus
Work Me (feat Lady Chann)
Equinox
Anthropology
Slow Memory (feat Sunless 97)
Zoning

Listen to the above listed 'Work Me' here: soundcloud.com/becoming-real/work-me-becoming-real-ft-lady

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

BIFFY CLYRO TO RELEASE DOUBLE LP
All but silent release-wise since 2009's 'Only Revolutions', Scots rockers Biffy Clyro have announced a double-strength resurgence in the form of two-part LP 'The Land At The End Of Our Toes/The Sand At The Core Of Our Bones'.

Drummer Ben Johnston says of the record, which is set for release this summer: "We don't want to pigeon hole it as a 'big rock album', so we're trying to make a diverse collection of songs".

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

DEPECHE MODE DISCUSS NEW ALBUM, MAY TOUR NEXT YEAR
Having just released Vince Clark collaboration 'SSSS' via his techno side venture VCMG, it seems Martin Gore has now redirected his sights to a brand new Depeche Mode album.

Updating Spin as to the tbc long player, which will mark the band's thirteenth studio suite to date, he said: "We've probably got 20 songs demoed. Some of the songs are in really good shape, some need some work, but we're definitely on track".

He continued: "We have a deadline of the end of November, and there's no reason we why we won't meet that at the rate we're going".

Gore also mentioned that Depeche Mode have plans in place "to be touring next year", so there's a second vagary to pin your new-wave hopes upon.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

JEDWARD RELEASE UNOFFICIAL FOOTBALL SINGLE
Not only are Jedward representing Ireland in Eurovision again this year, but the be-quiffed twins are also doing their bit for their home country's football team via new charity single 'Put The Green Cape On'.

Actually recorded to the tune of the teen brothers' 2011 Eurovision smash 'Lipstick' (but with new lyrics written by radio DJ Colm Hayes, who's sort of Ireland's domestic version of Terry Wogan) it's been designed as an 'unofficial' rallying cry for the Irish soccer squad's Euro 2012 campaign.

Proceeds from sales of the single, which is released today, go to the ISPCC, so it's all fine. Saying that, the video does feature Louis Walsh and Zig & Zag. But it's all for a good cause, so why not preview (and subsequently purchase) 'Put The Green Cape On' right now: www.youtube.com/user/JedwardsGreenCape

back to top




FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

BEACONS FESTIVAL, Funkirk Estate, Carleton, North Yorkshire, 17-19 Aug: Toots & The Maytals, who have just been announced as headliners, join an existing line-up of such Beacons luminaries as Wild Beasts, Roots Manuva, The Felice Brothers, Julio Bashmore, Real Estate, Oneman, Cloud Nothings, Koreless, Willis Earl Beal, Weird Dreams and Jessie Ware. www.greetingsfrombeacons.com

BLOC WEEKEND, London Pleasure Gardens, Royal Victoria Docks, 6-7 Jul: Proceedings at this year's London-located Bloc will now feature a DJ set by Arpanet, aka Drexciya/Dopplereffekt man Gerald Donal. He aligns with the superlative and already confirmed likes of Snoop Dogg, James Blake, Orbital, Flying Lotus, Nicolas Jaar and Battles at the electronic-centric event, whose extra attractions will now include the MS Stubnitz, once a deep sea fishing trawler and now a "moving platform for the sonic and visual arts". Basically a vast, industrial party boat. Hurrah! www.blocweekend.com

FIELD DAY, Victoria Park, London, 2 Jun: An array of fresh roster fare, not least Blanck Mass, Casper C, Com Truise, Julia Holter, Novella, Peaking Lights, Pond and a decks-dexterous crew of new DJs, further feeds Field Day's 2012 listings. Pre-established fixtures of the bill include Franz Ferdinand, Sleigh Bells, Mazzy Star, The Vaccines, AfroCubism, Metronomy and Austra. www.fielddayfestivals.com

LARMER TREE, Larmer Tree Gardens, Salisbury, Dorset, 11-15 Jul: Roots Manuva will represent the final part of Larmer's headlining saga, joining Jools Holland, Paloma Faith, Levellers, Amadou & Mariam and Tim Minchin atop a roster also featuring Caravan Palace, The Correspondents, Dub Pistols, The Wave Pictures, Vintage Trouble, Akala and Givers. www.larmertreefestival.co.uk

back to top


CONVENTION UPDATES: LSC, PRIMAVERAPRO, EUROSONIC, YMCAS
While there's been a whole load of updates on next week's Great Escape this week, which you'll find nicely summarised in the TGE section of theCMUwebsite.com (by which we mean www. theCMUwebsite.com/thegreatescape), news has also been flowing about some other showcase festivals and music business conventions of late.

First up, Liverpool Sound City, which is also speeding into view with some pace. LSC organisers announced recently that hip hop author, filmmaker, journalist, critic and social commentator Nelson George will join their convention's line-up as a second keynote speaker, alongside the previously reported keynote event featuring Mobile Roadie's Andrew Mains. Elsewhere newly confirmed panels will focus on music tech, music discovery and forward thinking labels.

Meanwhile, more information has been announced today of the LSC Expo event, a two day expo at Liverpool's Echo Arena, which will boast a music, digital and DJ hub, and feature representatives from Dolphin Music, Access To Music, Yamaha, LIPA, M Audio, Metropolis, Ward Hadaway, SAE Institute, Headstock, Sound Technology, LJMU, American Audio, Denon DJ, Pioneer DJ, Vestax, DJ TV Live, Traktor DJ and many more. LSC takes place from 17-19 May, with more info at www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

Looking to the end of the month, and a little further afield, line up info has been announced for PrimaveraPro, the conference side to Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival. The future of music festivals in general will be a key topic up for consideration, with reps from Womad, SxSW, Eurockéennes and the UK's Association Of Independent Festivals all confirmed to take part. Amongst the specific festival themed topics to be explored is how to survive in the competitive festivals market, the importance creativity plays in success, and the positive role major music events have on their host cities or regions.

Another theme being explored at the Barcelona event will be the power of music to change the world, plus crowdfunding, online marketing, and changes in the digital dynamic. It all takes place from 30 May to 1 Jun with info at pro.primaverasound.com

And finally, for those who like their showcase festival news very upfront, organisers of the Eurosonic festival, which takes place in the Netherlands each January, have announced that next year's featured country will be Finland. Delegate registration and artist submissions are also now open. More on it all at www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl (or Sonic Bids for artist submissions).

And while we are talking showcase festivals and music conventions, don't forget the shortlists have been announced for this year's Yearly Music Conference Awards, which will be presented on the Saturday morning of next week's Great Escape. Have your say here: www.thecmuwebsite.com/ymcas/

back to top


PEPSI DEALS: JACKSON ESTATE AND KATY PERRY
I always thought Pepsi should have sponsored Michael Jackson's cremation, but then he wasn't cremated, and that would be two inappropriate remarks regards the premature death of the late king of pop in one edition of the CMU Daily, which just wouldn't do.

Anyway, the cola brand has done a deal with the Jackson Estate which will see the singer's image used in a new global ad campaign to coincide with a re-release of 'Bad'. Pepsi cans will also featured pictures of the singer and options to download some exclusive remixes.

It was while filming a 1984 commercial for Pepsi, of course, that some pyros malfunctioned setting the pop star on fire. Some have claimed it was treatment required for those injuries that led to Jackson becoming addicted to prescription painkillers, a problem that allegedly dogged the performer for the rest of his life. Though the singer did make up with Pepsi bosses, taking part in subsequent promotional campaigns for the drinks brand in 1988 and 1991.

Also selling her soul to Pepsi this week was Katy Perry, who announced a partnership with the drinks firm as part of the promotion for her upcoming film 'Katy Perry: Part Of Me 3D'.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

JLS TO LAUNCH PERFUME
JLS are bringing out their own perfume, because that's what you do now. Called 'Kiss', it's one for the ladies, because JLS don't care how men smell. Presumably, with a name like that, it is designed to attract men though, and those men may then use some JLS condoms when copulating with those ladies, which would be pretty amazing product synergy within the JLS brand. I don't know, it doesn't say that in the press release. I bet that's what someone said in a meeting at some point though.

What the press release actually says is that "this unique formulation contains a special ingredient that has been chosen by each of the boys to intoxicate your senses and mesmerise your soul".

Having set it up so well in the first paragraph, I should probably insert a callback gag about condoms, secret perfume ingredients and product synergy here, but you probably already did it in your heads so I won't bother. You are all disgusting.

Created with award-winning perfume designer Azzi Glasser, there are plenty of other ingredients in the scent besides semen, including (once again according to the press release): "energising notes of peach skin, loganberry and cheeky cassis [which] allure the senses straight into the deep heart of white jasmine, tuberose absolute, neroli flower and sensual black orchid which add passion which is supported by a hypnotic base of hot amber crystals, white musk, patchouli and rich oakmoss to add longevity".

Sounds like they've overdone it a bit, if you ask me. But whatever, it's going fairly cheap. A 30ml bottle will set you back £14, or you can get 60ml for the knock down price of £20, exclusively through The Perfume Shop from later this month.

back to top


COBAIN'S DAUGHTER CONTROLS IMAGE RIGHTS, NOT LOVE
According to a website called The Fix, control of the name and likeness of Kurt Cobain now sits with his daughter Frances Bean Cobain, and not his widow and her estranged mother Courtney Love.

This is seemingly actually quite old news, though is only surfacing now because The Fix has seen relevant documents. According to the website, in 2010 Love took a $2.75 million loan from her daughter's trust fund, and as part of that transaction the trust gained control of Cobain's image rights until the loan is repaid. Love also stood down as a director of the company which controlled those rights. Since Frances Bean turned eighteen in 2010 she has had direct control of much of her trust fund, and, seemingly, that also means control over her late father's image.

None of this, though, affects the most lucrative of Cobain's rights, ie the copyrights in his music, that have been controlled and administrated by Primary Wave Music for some time.

back to top


WILL.I.AM: WE NEED TO MARRY MUSIC AND SCIENCE
Willi.am reckons the music industry still has a long way to go when it comes to truly embracing the digital era, and should "marry music and science" for future success. Or at least that's what Management Today is saying, quoting the Black Eyed Pea and 'The Voice' coach from a speech he gave at the Royal College Of Art's Innovation Night in London earlier this week.

Apparently he said: "The music industry never had an appreciation for technology. We're [only] going to work out how to make money once we marry music and science. Apple is worth $800 billion now - the music industry far less. Music helped define what that company is, but they made all the money".

Yeah, thanks for that Will.

back to top

--------------------------------------------------

SAINSBURY'S LAUNCHES MP3 STORE
Sainsbury's has launched a download service. It'll sell MP3s. And give you nectar points when you buy. And promise to refund the difference if tracks go down in price after you've bought them. Fun times indeed.

Says the supermarket's Head Of Entertainment (Online) Mark Bennett: "This launch of our new MP3 music service enables our customers across the UK to get digital music at great value. This is the first step in our expansion to offer digital entertainment alongside our existing range of CDs, games, film and books catalogue".

back to top


CMU BEEF OF THE WEEK #109: THE WANTED V CHRISTINA, BRITNEY AND... LADY GAGA?
The Wanted's feud with fellow Brits abroad One Direction has failed to gain traction. Partly because both sides insist there never was any feud, and partly because One Direction are too busy getting golden showers and STDs off koalas. But it's alright, there are still plenty of other popstars out there for The Wanted to fight with, and over the last week or so they've begun systematically running through them all one at a time. Number one in their sights was Christina Aguilera.

Aguilera is a judge on the US version of 'The Voice', on which The Wanted recently guested. Apparently she was pretty sullen throughout their performance of 'Chasing The Sun', and her reaction didn't go down well. Especially given that Jennifer Lopez gave at least one of the boy band a sneaky kiss when they performed on 'American Idol'.

Said the group's Tom Parker, speaking to New York radio station Now FM: "[Christina] is a total bitch. She might not be a bitch in real life, but to us, she was a total bitch. She just sat there and didn't speak to us. She wouldn't even look at us".

Meanwhile, referencing their meeting with Lopez at the 'Idol' recording, Max George added: "J.Lo's hot, Christina's nothing special!"

Possibly feeling guilty, possibly having had a talking to from their PR people, the group backtracked a little a few days later. Speaking to TMZ, Parker admitted: "We shouldn't have said it, to be honest with you. We just think manners cost nothing, you know what I mean? The rest of the judges were really nice and she didn't look at us or even talk to us but we apologise for the comment but we get a bit frustrated. It's just common courtesy".

Yeah, manners cost nothing, Christina. You really forced the otherwise well mannered Wanted to call you a "total bitch" in public. Forced them. But anyway, that doesn't matter because, now on an etiquette crusade, the group had another star in their sights: Britney Spears, who they scored a support slot with last year.

Although Siva Kaneswaran admitted that telling this story would mean breaching a "confidentiality thing", he explained to Fresh 102.7: "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".

Parker, eager not to lose his status as chief popstress offender despite having apparently not actually been there (unless he also works as The Wanted's tour manager), butted in: "As Miss Spears is walking through. We're like, come on!"

Kaneswaran finished the story forlornly: "We turned around and I faced a wall for about ten seconds until she got really far away".

Perhaps recalling the stern talking to they may or may not have had from their people the last time they dissed one of the world's biggest popstars, or possibly because they just realised they were starting to look rather ungrateful for being invited onto not only a high rating TV show but also the stage of a large scale concert, Jay McGuiness added: "When we actually met her person to person she was so down to earth". But it was too late, the damage was done.

As news of The Wanted's war on Britney spread around the web, E! Online got on the phone to her people for a statement, who 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 popstars in just a few days. Look out Lady Gaga - there are still three days left this week".

So far The Wanted have said nothing about Lady Gaga, as far as we know. She'll be pleased to learn that Plácido Domingo has got her back should things kick off though. He told The Daily Mail this week: "I think Lady Gaga has a very good voice. Absolutely. She has a wonderful voice. I know she's very wild in her performance, and clever, and she does all these things to please the youth. But when you listen to her, the voice is good".

Actually, that sounded like a slightly backhanded compliment there. So Domingo doesn't like Lady Gaga's performance or 'the youth'? That's the sort of talk that really winds up The Wanted, Plácido. I'd watch out if I were you.

back to top

 
If you want to stop receiving this e-bulletin click the safe unsubscribe button at the bottom of this email and follow the instructions.

If you want to change the email address where you receive the CMU Daily, or to opt for the text-only version, click the update profile button at the bottom and follow the instructions.

Friends or colleagues can sign up for free at www.theCMUwebsite.com/subscribe
 
CMU Editor Andy Malt and CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke are both available to comment on music and music business stories. Together they have provided comment and contributions to BBC News, BBC World, BBC Radios 4, 5, 6music and Scotland, Sky News, CNN, Wired and the Associated Press. Email [email protected] or [email protected].

UnLimited Media also provides creative, training and consulting services for the music, media and communication industries. More at www.unlimitedmedia.co.uk.
 
Email press releases or random news to [email protected]
(PLEASE NOTE: Press releases sent to any other address will be ignored)

Email suggestions for Q&As or playlists to [email protected]

Email suggestions for Approved to [email protected] / [email protected]

To discuss advertising and sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]

If you have a complaint email [email protected]

Send CDs to CMU, UnLimited Media, 221-222 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6PJ.
 
Concept and content © UnLimited Publishing.

Published by UnLimited Publishing, a division of UnLimited Media,
Floor 2 Unicorn House, 221-222 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6PJ.

UnLimited Media also provides creative, training and consulting services for the music, media and communication industries. More at www.unlimitedmedia.co.uk.