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ONE PUSSY RIOT MEMBER FREED ON SUSPENDED SENTENCE The conviction and sentencing of the musical activists was criticised by artists and free speech groups the world over. Some of the group's closest supporters were pessimistic about the chances of the three women being freed from jail at their appeal hearing this week, even though Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev had told reporters he thought suspended sentences would be an acceptable conclusion. Putin, though, said at the weekend that he believes the musicians got what they deserved. -------------------------------------------------- US JUDGE DENIES MEGAUPLOAD'S FIRST CASE DISMISSAL CLAIM As previously reported, MegaUpload's legal reps hoped that they could kick out the US government's criminal case against the Mega corporate entity, reckoning that the criminal charges that are being pursued against the individual MegaUpload executives alone may not be sufficiently serious to qualify under the extradition agreement between New Zealand and the States. MegaUpload, of course, was taken offline by the US authorities in January, after the feds raided various American server facilities that hosted much of the controversial file-transfer website, while police in New Zealand arrested four Mega execs, including founder Kim 'Dotcom' Schmitz, at the Americans' request. The company and its former management are accused of copyright infringement, money laundering and racketeering. The US is now involved in long-running efforts to extradite Dotcom et al to America, hindered by various cock ups by the New Zealand authorities that have rendered part of the investigation illegal. Mega's legal team, who have also accused the US authorities, their political masters, and the Hollywood lobby of dodgy behaviour in relation to the MegaUpload shutdown, had been hoping to score an early win in the US case against the digital firm and its former execs. But it wasn't to be. Federal prosecutors in the States argued that if MegaUpload's argument - that the company couldn't be prosecuted because it lacked a US HQ - was allowed to stand, then that would result in "the incredible conclusion that foreign corporations can commit crimes in the United States without risk of being brought to justice here". Considering the arguments late last week, Judge Liam O'Grady said that MegaUpload's dismissal requests were somewhat "extreme", and that the line of US criminal procedure on which the digital company relied had never been grounds for dismissal of a criminal case before. Echoing the arguments of the prosecution, according to Billboard, the judge concluded: "It is doubtful that Congress would stamp with approval a procedural rule permitting a corporate defendant to intentionally violate the laws of this country, yet evade the jurisdiction of United States' courts by purposefully failing to establish an address here". So, round one to the prosecution. Though there's an awful lot of rounds still to go on this one, with extradition hearings in New Zealand next Spring still to be conducted before any serious debate of the legalities, or not, of the MegaUpload enterprise can be discussed in the US courtroom. LADY GAGA MEETS JULIAN ASSANGE Gaga had been in London to promote her new perfume, Fame, at Harrods. According to reports she spent five hours with the Wikileaks founder and the pair had dinner together. Assange is currently holed up in the Ecuador embassy, where he sought asylum earlier this year, to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sexual assault charges. He fears that Swedish authorities will in turn extradite him to the US, where he is wanted for leaking government information via WikiLeaks. The meeting with Gaga came after MIA tweeted the singer on Sunday, saying: "If [you're] at Harrods today come visit Assange at the Ecuador embassy across the [street]. I'm there. I'll bring TEA and CAKE". ADELE WINS SONG OF THE YEAR AT BMI LONDON AWARDS Commenting on the awards, BMI boss Del Bryant told CMU: "A BMI songwriting award is a unique and important recognition of a song's life cycle. Songs are born, and then they journey throughout the world's marketplace, through traditional broadcasts, digital platforms, local businesses and other industries. BMI tracks and shepherds that journey. As the son of professional songwriters, I understand and admire the passion and pride that our songwriters feel as their work crosses cultures and defines eras, and the essential need to safeguard that work". The awards show also celebrates European-penned songs that have passed significant landmarks in terms of airplay in the US in the last year, the most notable being everyone's favourite stalking song, The Police's 'Every Breath You Take', which has had a massive eleven million plays on American radio in its lifetime. Which equates to 60 years of constant airplay, apparently. JAMES MURPHY "JUST DID A LITTLE FUN STUFF" ON YEAH YEAH YEAHS ALBUM, "NOT NECESSARILY" PRODUCING ARCADE FIRE Speaking to the Huffington Post, he said: "I just did a little fun stuff [on the YYYs record]. Nothing really big; I don't have time and they don't have time. I think they're done with their record now, I was just fussing around. I didn't make their album. They're just friends". Asked about rumours that he was involved with making the new Arcade Fire album, he said: "That's not necessarily true. We don't work like that. Because I work with friends, if I have time and they're doing something and I'm on the East Coast, then we can do something. But also they don't need a producer, in a way. They produce themselves. When I was making my record, any number of people came and spent a couple weeks or a week hanging out and being involved in the process". RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOXSET Released on 26 Nov, in its deluxe form it will feature a remastered edition of the album on CD and 180g vinyl; the original demo recordings for the record (also on CD and vinyl); a DVD featuring their 2010 free concert in Finsbury Park; another DVD featuring their first ever live performance in 1991; If that all sounds a bit much, there's also an edition with two CDS and a DVD featuring a few videos, or a one disc edition featuring the album and a few bonus tracks. New liner notes included in each edition, meanwhile, have been penned by Chuck D. And now, here's the video for the band's debut single and latterly Christmas hit, 'Killing In The Name'. -------------------------------------------------- NEW ORDER TO RELEASE RARITIES COMPILATION, AT LAST As previously reported, Bernard Sumner et al are at the moment contemplating an original LP of the "electronic synth" variety, while Peter Hook is erm... best not mention what he's doing. Tracklisting: Stay With You -------------------------------------------------- DELS DETAILS EP Singer Bila also guests on 'Bird Milk', a version of which also appeared on Kwes and Micachu's 'Kwesachu' mixtape. You can hear the 'Black Salad' edit of it now. And now a tracklisting, plus a sample of EP finale 'You Live In My Head': Black Salad -------------------------------------------------- TAMARYN STREAM TENDER NEW LP Either that, or attend one of two Tamaryn live shows at the Manchester Soup Kitchen (14 Oct) or London's Lexington (15 Oct). -------------------------------------------------- FRANKIE COCOZZA CONFIRMS POST-'X' EP Frankie doesn't have a website bearing any details, or a tracklisting, or anything, but has decreed via Twitter that 'The Motorcycle' will be available via iTunes on 5 Nov. So remember, remember that. But first, it's back to Frankie's 'X' glory days, and a judges houses rendition of Rihanna's 'What's My Name'. KE$HA TO PUBLISH CRAZY, BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED MEMOIR Anyway, rather than be mean, I'll leave it to Ke$ha to describe it. And she says: "You might have heard my voice on the radio, seen me onstage and on the red carpet, or in a music video, but that's only a part of the story. In these pages, I'm revealing a more complete picture of what my life is really like. It's not all glamorous and it's not all pretty, but it's all real... I want you to come on a whirlwind journey with an all-access pass to 'My Crazy Beautiful Life'". ROLLING STONES 50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS BOOKED Speaking to Q for an interview in the next edition of the magazine at the weekend, Richards said: "We've got some shows in London, I believe, and in New York, but I really can't talk about any of that at the moment. They've put the gag on me on this. You can hint!" He added that the band are now a week into a month long run of rehearsals for the shows, and are starting to get back into playing together: "Everybody relies upon their instincts, especially once you start working regularly together again. Because it pulls all the bits and pieces together, which when you're not working and playing with the guys, dissipates, obviously; you're not having that immediate contact. But kind of two days of hanging around with the guys again, a certain demon energy takes over and you wonder where it's coming from!" This year is the band's 50th anniversary year, of course, and after much battling (legal and otherwise), celebrations are slowly kicking into action. In August it was revealed that the band were recording in Paris, and a new documentary is due for release in cinemas later this month. -------------------------------------------------- LIANNE LA HAVAS CANCELS TOUR DATES back to top THE JOY FORMIDABLE ANNOUNCE HEADLINE SHOWS Those headline dates are: 25 Oct: Bangor, Henre Hall Watch out for a rather fine CMU playlist from The Joy Formidable in the near future too. PROUD2 LICENCE SUSPENSION ENDED As previously reported, the East London spin-off of the Proud empire had its licence temporarily suspended by council officials after an incident on 2 Sep when two men were stabbed and a bouncer was hit with a bucket. The suspension forced promoters of a string of club nights already booked into the venue to find new locations for their events, and Proud boss Alex Proud criticised Greenwich Council for instigating the temporary closure, saying it endangered the "viability" of the venue. But last week a meeting of the council's licensing sub-committee ruled that the club could now reopen, subject to some new conditions, including changing the club's designated supervisor and security staff, searching all customers on entry, and keeping a record of all people excluded from the venue. There has been speculation on the impact the closure might have had on the Proud2 company, a joint venture between Proud and Dome operators AEG, though as yet nothing official has been said. Events were booked into the venue for this weekend, though it's not currently known if they are going ahead - it may well depend on how quickly Proud management can get the new measures ordered by Greenwich Council in place. -------------------------------------------------- AR MANAGEMENT LAUNCHES NEW VOCALIST DIVISION FOR DANCE SECTOR The new division has been in development since May, and has already worked or is working on projects with the likes of Kissy Sell Out, Armand Van Helden, Avicii and Tiesto. The new agency has also already built a roster of talent. More at www.ar-management.com -------------------------------------------------- KOBALT PLANS FURTHER EXPANSION WITH BIGGER ARTIST DEALS AND POSSIBLE CATALOGUE ACQUISITIONS According to Billboard, the expanding music firm says it has raised $75 million via its newish Kobalt Capital business, and can raise another $25 million "by drawing down funding from the company's credit facilities". About $20 million has already been used to enter into bigger artist deals than the company would have done in the past, while future funds may be used for either further songwriter deals, or to buy catalogue. Kobalt Capital CEO Johan Ahlström told reporters: "As we enter our second year of activity of KCL we are looking at stepping up our investment in royalty advances and copyright acquisitions with a focus on rights where value uplift can be achieved through Kobalt's efficient royalty collections and value enhancement through active management and marketing". WILL PAGE AT SPOTIFY, ACCORDING TO REPORTS The exact nature of Page's new post isn't clear, though it is thought he will become an influential player internally, and maybe an external commentator for the digital firm too, given his past experience producing and presenting research and reports on various aspects of the wider music business. As previously reported, Page departed PRS back in July. The collecting society has recently started recruiting for a new economist. -------------------------------------------------- SOUNDCLOUD AND GETTY ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP Says Getty Images CEO Jonathan Klein: "Getty Images Music and SoundCloud's collaboration combines two great digital platforms. This partnership fits directly with Getty Images strategy of making the broadest and best content available to our customers in a seamless and simple experience while providing a meaningful benefit to the creator". Meanwhile Soundcloud chief Alexander Ljung added: "SoundCloud's partnership with Getty Images Music creates a powerful offering to our community of professional and casual creators. Now through Getty Images Music, songwriters and audio creators can broaden their exposure and potentially monetise sounds they've shared on SoundCloud". VARIETY SOLD Confirming the acquisition, PMC CEO Jay Penske told reporters: "As a company, we plan to rapidly build upon Variety's foundation, while extending this invaluable brand's presence across the web, broadcast, mobile and international markets". Like many traditional trade magazines, the 107 year old Variety has faced the challenge of new online-only competitors with lower overheads, and falling budgets at many entertainment companies. It's thought the new owners may take down the paywall element to the title's website, while some are already speculating about the future of the print Variety publications. The trade mag currently has a staff of about 120. GREEN DAY BASSIST DISCUSSES ARMSTRONG BURNOUT As previously reported, when the band had their set cut short and were informed they only had one minute of stage time left, Armstrong ranted: "You're kidding me, you're fucking kidding me. What the fuck? I'm not fucking Justin Bieber you motherfuckers. You gotta be fucking joking. This is a fucking joke. I've got one minute, one minute left. Oh, now I've got nothing left. Let me show you what one fucking minute fucking means". He then smashed up his guitar and threw the remains into the audience. Recognising that iHeartRadio owner Clear Channel - the biggest radio firm in the US - was not a company they could afford to piss off, the band issued an apology the next day and informed fans that Armstrong was receiving treatment for substance abuse. Speaking to Zane Lowe on Radio 1 about the whole thing this week, Dirnt said that recording a trilogy of albums and then heading straight out to promote them was perhaps not such a great idea. He said: "With hindsight 20/20 it was a tremendous undertaking. Although we were having fun we didn't take our nose out of the book for a long time. I think it catches up with you a little bit. We definitely just jumped off a moving train". He continued: "There were signs of things hitting the fan. We hadn't slept in forever and Billie had definitely had the worst of it. He'd been going through his own struggles. We were there with him but you can only handle things on your own. At the end of the day when we got off the road the most important thing was my friend's life". He added that with promotional activities and live performances cancelled for the time being, the band have also had a break from each other, saying: "I'm sure Billie's had it really rough. There's been very little contact between us [since the iHeartRadio festival], so I guess I'm just generalising, but it's a pretty heavy-duty process. This is probably the longest time we haven't seen each other - I haven't seen Billie in weeks. It's an awkward position to be in, but we're going to pander this out. We'll get there". |
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