POP CELEBS CALL FOR MORE ACTION ON PIRACY
A plethora of pop celebs have put their name to an open letter calling on that PM bloke, Dave Cameron, to get his arse into gear and get the copyright elements of the Digital Economy Act up and running. Using the upcoming Olympics as an opening gambit, the music types also call on the government to put more pressure on search engines and online ad networks to do more stop unlicensed sources of music from getting traffic and advertising revenue.

Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Elton John, Simon Cowell, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Robert Plant, Professor Green and Tinie Tempah are among the artists whose names appear at the bottom of the public note to the PM and his government.

It says: "As the world's focus turns to the UK this summer, there is an opportunity to stimulate growth in sectors where the UK has a competitive edge. Our creative industries represent one such sector, which creates jobs at twice the speed of the rest of the economy. Britain's share of the global music market is higher than ever with UK artists, led by Adele, breaking through to global stardom".

"As a digitally advanced nation whose language is spoken around the world, the UK is well positioned to increase its exports in the digital age. Competition in the creative sector is in talent and innovation, not labour costs or raw materials. We can realise this potential only if we have a strong domestic copyright framework, so that UK creative industries can earn a fair return on their huge investments creating original content. Illegal activity online must be pushed to the margins. This will benefit consumers, giving confidence they are buying safely online from legal websites".

As much previously reported, while the music industry was successful in pushing the copyright elements of the DEA through parliament in 2010, the three-strikes style system the Act was meant to initiate is yet to get off the ground, though OfCom has been working on it ever since the legislation became law. Meanwhile this year rights owners have been putting ever more pressure onto Google to do more to ensure illegal sources of content do not appear in search results when web-users type in the names of their favourite artists. Google would claim that it is doing all it can already, though some in the music and movie industries are pushing for more.

Of course, ironically, the one bit of the DEA that wasn't meant to happen immediately - the issuing of web-block injunctions against websites that prolifically infringe copyright - has happened anyway, without having to rely on the new Act. Whether the web-blocks and, if it ever happens, the warning letters to file-sharers enabled by the DEA, will actually reduce or limit online piracy is, of course, a topic of much debate.

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HTC SELLS HALF ITS SHARES IN BEATS BACK TO DRE AND IOVINE
HTC has announced that it has sold half of its shares in Beats Electronics back to founders Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine for $150 million. The sale reduces the mobile phone company's share from 50.1%, bought for $309 million last August, to 25.57%. The news caused HTC's share price to slip by 4% yesterday, according to Reuters. While Morgan Stanley described the move as "puzzling".

In its own statement, HTC described the deal as "a realignment of [HTC and Beats'] business agreement that provides Beats with more flexibility for global expansion while maintaining HTC's major stake and commercial exclusivity in mobile".

The company added: "Over the last year, HTC and Beats have made great progress in sound innovation, product integration and brand awareness with successes like the HTC One. HTC and Beats will continue to work closely, including a joint global marketing campaign later this year".

Contrary to this, Morgan Stanley said: "Reducing its holding to 25.57% signals HTC's separation from Beats' operations. Possibly it implies that there was not much synergy between the two companies from the beginning".

This news comes just weeks after it was announced that Beats had bought US music streaming service MOG.

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LIBERTY X NOT PLANNING LONG TERM REUNION
Michelle Heaton of Liberty X (remember them?) has said that the group have been approached to reform for a tour, but that there's no current plans to do so, and if she and her former bandmates did ever agree to a reformation, it would probably be for a one off.

Heaton told Entertainment News: "We're not under any pretences that [we could be] anywhere near as big as what Steps have done, or Take That. They are phenomenons, they've done amazingly well. [But] I think that if we were ever to get back together it wouldn't necessarily be a [full] reformation, it would be a one-off gig. We'll have to wait and see. I'll never say never, but at the moment it's a no, [though] just because we haven't said yes".

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SNOOP DOGG REINCARNATED AS A LION
The first track from Snoop Dogg's previously reported reggae album has appeared online. Well, technically the first track from Snoop Lion's reggae album, as the rapper has opted for a change of moniker as well as genre.

Earlier this year, Snoop said that the Diplo-helmed project was "like the birth of me becoming who I really am". I don't know about that, but you can listen to 'La La La', which features guest vocals from Jovi Rockwell here.

As well as that, Snoop has just added his usual rapping fare to a new version of Cher Lloyd's 'Want U Back'. Listen to that here.

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KANYE AND CO SET RELEASE DATE FOR GOOD COMPILATION
Its release has been rumoured since the start of the year, and now 'Cruel Summer', the compilation LP from Kanye West's all-star GOOD Music collective, at last has an official issue date. Which, by the way, and without any further nonsense, is 3 Sep. As to determining which part-time GOOD associates are involved, Complex Magazine's new cover article confirms input from Big Sean, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Mr Hudson, John Legend, Common, 2 Chainz and Q-Tip.

While Mr West, who apparently now operates a no-press policy, is silent throughout the Complex interview, Big Sean says this on his behalf: "Kanye put himself in a class that nobody can match, as far as evolving, progressing, and taking the best of what we learn and making more out of it".

All humility, he adds: "So the brand is just being the coolest. We dress the best, we rap the best, we sing the best, we look the best".

For more modest quotes from Big Sean and the GOOD ensemble at large, read the full four-page story here.

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YOKO ONO, KIM GORDON AND THURSTON MOORE RELEASING LP
Yoko Ono and Sonic Youth divorcees Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore are to release a collaborative LP entitled, original Sugababes-style, 'YOKOKIMTHURSTON'. Wouldn't you know, I think I see what Yoko, Kim and Thurston did there.

Set for issue via Chimera Music on 25 Sep, the long player is inclusive of 'Early In The Morning', the 14-minute single the trio released earlier this month in aid of Japanese tsunami victims.

Tracklisting:

I Missed You Listening
Running the Risk
I Never Told You, Did I?
Mirror Mirror
Let's Get There
Early in the Morning

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DEERHOOF ANNOUNCE ALBUM
ATP has announced it'll oversee the release of 'Breakup Song', the new LP from zany US noise-makers Deerhoof, on 3 Sep. The band are previewing several of its 11 tracks in their own err... distinctive style at deerhoof.net, where they've set up a digital jukebox-type thing called the 'Jingletron'. To listen to short blasts of audio from the LP, just add a 'jingletoken' to the player, and brace yourself.

Tracklisting:

Breakup Songs
There's That Grin
Bad Kids To The Front
Zero Seconds Pause
Mothball the Fleet
Flower
To Fly Or Not To Fly
The Trouble With Candyhands
We Do Parties
Mario's Flaming Whiskers III
Fête d'Adieu

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SBTRKT STREAMS NEW TRACK
Tribal-masked producer SBTRKT is now streaming a brand new track, the hazily soporific 'Gloss', via his SoundCloud page.

Having released his eponymous first LP last year, this is the first move he's made since sharing studio spare 'Gamelena' back in May. Writing at the time, he also said: "Back in the studio. Working towards EPs/album/ etc... something new - no plan for it - just thought I'd share".

And in that same spirit of generosity, share in the sounds of 'Gloss' here.

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NEW KILLERS SINGLE IS "SPECIAL" AND ALBUM HAS "MORE STYLES", SAYS FLOWERS
Killers frontman Brandon Flowers has said that recently debuted track 'Runaways', the Springsteen-esque first single from his band's forthcoming fourth album 'Battle Born', is "special", but fans should expect to hear a wide range of obvious influences other than The Boss on the full LP.

Flowers told Billboard: "When I heard that march that catapults ['Runaways'] forward, I knew there was something special about it. It's a great starting point, but there are more styles as well [on the album] ... We've never hid[den] our influences, and we've always been loud and proud. This album is going down a few different roads, and you really get a taste of what we like as a band and what we think our strengths are".

Well then, here are The Killers showing off their strengths.

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ELBOW LIST ARENA DATES
Elbow have arranged no less than five arena shows via which to promote their previously featured B-sides compilation, 'Dead In The Boot'.

That's out on 27 Aug, and the supporting tour dates are as here listed:

26 Nov: Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
28 Nov: Birmingham, NIA
29 Nov: Liverpool, Echo Arena
1 Dec: Manchester, MEN Arena
2 Dec: London, O2 Arena

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THE XX SHARE LOW-KEY LIVE LISTINGS
Having just unveiled new single 'Angels' to a chorus of rapturous sighs, The xx will, on 10 Sep, air part, if not all, of their new LP 'Coexist' at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire. They'll also play Cardiff's Coal Exchange on 11 Sep, and Edinburgh's Usher Hall on the 12.

Apparently, or so says Romy Madley Croft in this interview with The Vine, the band don't feel as "cripplingly shy" now as in the days of their eponymous debut, so that's all very nice.

Tickets for the shows are available from 27 Jul, but you can gain access to pre-sale passes on 25 Jul by signing up to the xx mailing list via thexx.info.

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FAIR OHS TO TOUR
London indie troupe Fair Ohs, who plied us with so much tropical-flavoured post-punk across their debut LP 'Everything Is Dancing', have just confirmed a couple of British dates as part of an eight-stop Euro tour.

For details of said dates, look here:

3 Aug: Brighton, Green Door Store
8 Aug: London, Old Blue Last

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP ADDITIONS

CLUB TO CLUB, Turin, Italy, 8-11 Nov: Actress, Disclosure, Teengirl Fantasy, DVA, Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz, Young Wonder, Kate Wax, James Holden and Experanza. clubtoclub.it/2012/

HEVY FESTIVAL, Port Lympne Animal Park, Kent, 3-6 Aug: Brutality Will Prevail, Broken Teeth, Demoraliser, Napoleon, Brotherhood of the Lake, Grader, Acoda, Page 44 and Never Means Maybe. www.hevy.co.uk

RADFEST, Hackney Downs Studios, 19 Aug: Trash Talk, SSS, Gabriel Bruce, Halls, Throne. www.facebook.com/events/285120321578069/

READING/LEEDS FESTIVALS, 24-26 Aug: Attention Thieves, Backyards, Bearfoot Beware, Black Moth, Crooked Tongues, Cut Ribbons Danica Hunter, Deaf Club, Dear Prudence, Dingus Khan, Empror & Duppy Beatz, Escape To New York, Fish Tank, Funeral Suits, Glassbody , Hawk Eyes, Hildamay, Ifan Dafydd, Lady Lykez, Marmozets Marsicans, Max Raptor, Mikill Pane, Park Bench Society, Post War Glamour Girls, Proxies, Rachel Sermanni, RIO Samoans, Sarah Williams White, Seasfire , Vengeance & The Panther Queen Wet Nuns, We Walk On Ice and We Were Frontiers. www.readingfestival.com / www.leedsfestival.com

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WARNER APPOINT GLOBAL A&R CHIEF
Warner Music yesterday announced it had promoted A&R man Mike Caren to the role of President, Worldwide A&R. Reporting directly to the major's CEO Lyor Cohen, Caren will have an overseer role over A&R activity at all of the company's label divisions around the world, as well as launching a new company via the Atlantic unit called Artist Partners, offering "creative services to entrepreneurial talent". It sounds like he's going to be busy.

Confirming the new appointment, Cohen told CMU: "Mike is an outstanding A&R executive. His unwavering commitment to extraordinary music has resulted in the discovery of many visionary artists, and the achievement of their true potential. He will now bring his rare mix of musical ability, creative instinct and entrepreneurial drive to WMG's company-wide focus on artist development".

Caren himself added: "During the past twenty years I have been involved in every aspect of the creative process. I've learned how important A&R can be in all stages of an artistic career, and I'm delighted to work at a company where that commitment to artists is at the center of everything we do. Lyor Cohen and the leadership across Atlantic and Warner Bros are providing an incredible environment that enables our artists and label teams to play to their strengths. I am excited to be collaborating with them as we develop the latest generation of A&R talent and nurture tomorrow's global superstars. My goal, with both WMG and Artist Partners, is to help artists realise their entire vision, be it creative, marketing or entrepreneurial".

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THIS JUST-IN: BIEBER NOT A PRICK BECAUSE HE'S FAMOUS
Justin Bieber's manager Scooter Braun has made it known that Justin Bieber isn't a prick because he's famous. He's just like that. And I for one am glad we got that cleared up.

Though, Braun adds, when Bieber acts like a prick, the fault might actually lie with the adults around him, who are too afraid to tell the superstar teen to stop being a dick. The manager specifically recalled one of Bieber's hilarious recent japes when he locked a producer in a cupboard.

According to Popjustice, Braun told Rolling Stone: "I said [to the producer in question] 'Let me ask you a question. When he locked you in the closet, did you tell him you were angry?' He goes: 'No, I needed him to work, so I laughed'. And I said: 'So he saw you acknowledge his joke and say it's OK? Then you're more to blame than him. He's a kid, he's waiting for someone to tell him where the limits are".

Which is possibly a good point. Though as his manager and the person who plucked the pop teen from obscurity while he was still a child, maybe Braun is the one who should have made the effort to teach Bieber the art of not being an arse. Still, the manager concluded: "When he's being a prick, it's not because he's famous. He's being a prick because he's a kid".

Though how long will that excuse last, now Rolling Stone have declared the singer 'Hot, Ready, Legal' on the front of their latest issue?

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