THURSDAY
11 OCT 2012

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PLAYLIST: THE JOY FORMIDABLE
Later this month, The Joy Formidable will release 'Cholla', the first single from their second album, before heading out on a tour of UK arenas as support act to Muse. As well as that, they're fit in two headlines shows at Bangor's Hendre Hall on 25 and London's Kings Colleg e on 29 Oct. The new album, 'Wolf's Law', is then due for release in January 2012. Ahead of all of that, we asked the band to put together a playlist for us more>>
 
APPROVED: GIRLS NAMES - THE NEW LIFE
Formed in Belfast in 2009, Girls Names subsequently developed a nice line in jangly West Coast-influenced garage pop. They released their debut EP through Captured Tracks the following year before moving to Tough Love for a mini-album and their 2011 debut album, 'Dead To Me'. And if that album title was indeed an announcement of their figurative death, then new single 'The New Life' perfectly reveals their rebirth more>>
TOP STORIES
- Freed Pussy Riot member has "mixed feelings" on release
- McFly bassist discusses attempted suicide
IN THE POP COURTS
- Court rejects Elton John's libel claim over Times tax avoidance report
AWARDS & CONTESTS
- American Music Awards noms announced
- Student Radio Award noms announced
- ASCAP London awards presented
CHARTS, STATS & POLLS
- One Direction break another US chart record
REUNIONS & SPLITS
- Brian Wilson responds to Mike Love: "It sort of feels like we're being fired"
- Spaceghostpurrp quitting "shady ass rap game"
RELEASE NEWS
- Toro Y Moi names new record
- Ducktails details ensemble LP
GIGS & TOURS NEWS
- Yeasayer share revised live dates
- Sauna Youth and Cold Pumas to co-headline tour
FESTIVAL NEWS
- Festival line-up additions
BRANDS & STUFF
- Dizzee Rascal asked to voice Coco Pops monkey
THE MUSIC BUSINESS
- Reading booker Pengelly departs Festival Republic, Haddard joins in Latitude role
- Kickstarter to launch in UK this month
- Tony Linkin joins Big Mouth
- Azoff Junior to join CAA
THE DIGITAL BUSINESS
- MUZU announces music video app for new Windows OS
- Pandora boss reveals some figures
THE MEDIA BUSINESS
- Adam Buxton and Edith Bowman to present 6music show
AND FINALLY...
- Sarah Brightman to visit International Space Station
YOUR ARMY - ONLINE PR OFFICER
Your Army Promotions are looking for a dynamic new publicist. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable about electronic music and be passionate about online media - regularly reading online music sites and seeking out the best new blogs. Social media strategy is a bonus.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
   
DANCE MUSIC ENTHUSIAST
Driven 'Big Room'/commercial dance music enthusiast with a desire to work in the music industry required. Exciting opportunity to work at a leading music promotions company. Full time, three month temporary contract with potential for permanent role. Must be extremely organised and target driven.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
 
   
RESIDENT ADVISOR - C# .NET DEVELOPER
RA is currently seeking a brilliant London-based developer. This full-time position is based in Shoreditch, East London. This position offers a fantastic opportunity for growth. We aren’t looking for someone to come in every day, sit in the corner and write endless reams of code. We want you to be involved in the day-to-day activities of the company in order to offer the best solutions and improvements to help ensure Resident Advisor remains one step ahead of the game.

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


FREED PUSSY RIOT MEMBER HAS "MIXED FEELINGS" ON RELEASE
Pussy Riot member Yekaterina Samutsevich said yesterday that she had "mixed feelings" after being released from prison. As previously reported, Samutsevich had her two year prison term, originally handed down in August after she was convicted of 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred', reduced to a suspended sentence on appeal yesterday.

However, at the same appeal hearing her fellow band members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina had their original sentences upheld and therefore will remain in prison, pending further appeals. Reuters reports that upon leaving the court, Samutsevich said: "I have mixed feelings. I'm happy, of course, but I am upset about the girls".

She was freed after her lawyer successfully argued that his client had not actually performed the protest song carried out by other members of the band on the altar of the Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow earlier this year, because she had been held back by security. It was the performance of that song, which was critical of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, that led to the hooliganism charges.

In court the other two women argued that they should not be convicted on the grounds of religious hatred, as their protest was entirely politically motivated despite their choice of venue. Alyokhina told the court: "We did not want to offend believers. We came to the cathedral to speak out against the merger between spiritual figures and the political elite of our country".

She continued: "I have lost all hope in our courts. We are in jail for our political convictions. Even if our sentences are upheld, we will not be silent. Even if we are in Mordovia or Siberia, we will not be silent, no matter how uncomfortable it is for you".

Tolokonnikova added: "It's painful for me to hear that I am speaking out against religion. I have no religious hatred and never have. We'll be going to a prison colony while civil war is brewing in this country. Putin is doing everything to make this happen. He is setting people against each other".

As previously reported, in an interview marking his 60th birthday, Putin told state-run TV channel NTV that the three women "got what they asked for", adding: "It was right that they were arrested, and the court's decision was right".

After the hearing, Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina's lawyer Mark Feigin said that Putin's comments had compromised the appeal, adding that his clients would continue to fight the conviction on procedural grounds.

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MCFLY BASSIST DISCUSSES ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
Dougie Poynter has revealed that he attempted suicide in February 2011, before his previously reported admission into rehab the following month.

The McFly bassist seemingly attempted to end his life in a fume-filled car as he battled with drink and drug addiction. But the suicide attempt failed, and the musician managed to overcome his demons in rehab, returning to the stage later the same year, and going on to win the 2011 series of ITV reality show 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here'.

Poynter reveals more about that period in his life in a new combined autobiography by the band, 'Unsaid Things... Our Story', that is out this week. And he spoke candidly about the experience on Alan Carr's Channel 4 chat show, reportedly "drawing gasps" from the audience.

According to The Mirror, Carr, after noting that Poynter had seemed different the last time he was on the comedian's TV show (during that period), asked if he felt better once he wrote about the suicide attempt. The bassist replied: "It's always good to reflect on that sort of stuff. I'm in a really, really good place now. It is quite easy to forget. It's quite therapeutic to go back, quite scary and a bit of an eye opener into how dark it can get if you take your foot off the gas and stop looking after yourself".

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COURT REJECTS ELTON JOHN'S LIBEL CLAIM OVER TIMES TAX AVOIDANCE REPORT
The High Court in London has rejected a libel claim by Elton John against The Times, after he was mentioned in one of the broadsheet's tax avoidance exposés earlier this year.

The singer's financial affairs were referenced in a June report into the legal but arguably unethical schemes employed by some of the rich and famous to avoid paying taxes. The article claimed, incorrectly, that John had engaged the services of Ingenious Media chief Patrick McKenna to work as his accountant in regards to a tax avoidance scheme. The next day the paper admitted McKenna had never actually been John's accountant, and the following month it ran a second clarification stating that Ingenious had never offered to move money offshore for the singer.

Nevertheless, John sued The Times for defamation, claiming that the articles were "severely damaging" to his reputation and charity work. However, Judge Michael Tugendhat disagrees, ruling that, contrary to John's claims, he does not believe that the average Times reader would have inferred that the singer was, or was reasonably believed to be, involved in tax avoidance from the broadsheet's report. After all, the judge noted, readers of that particular paper are "highly educated and better informed members of the public" (what's the betting Mike reads The Times?).

Therefore, according to The Guardian, the judge concluded that, despite the factual errors in the Times piece, "the words complained of are not capable of bearing the meaning attributed to them by the claimant or any other defamatory meaning".

It remains to be seen if John decides to appeal, perhaps by wheeling some Times-reading idiots into the court room. Now that would be fun.

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AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMS ANNOUNCED
Anyone for a shortlist of this year's public-voted American Music Awards nominations? No? Well, you're having one anyway. Rather than draw this out, I'll just summarise the headlines in some bullet points:

- Overall most-mentioned artistes Rihanna and Nicki Minaj each have four nominations, while a slightly less acclaimed Justin Bieber and One Direction have two apiece.

- Speaking of One Direction, they square off against Brit boyband rivals The Wanted in the Favourite Band, Duo Or Group - Pop/Rock category, a sure-to-be fascinating face-off until 1D win.

- Adele, Kelly Clarkson, and Train are competing to be America's Favourite Adult Contemporary Artist, which sounds less like an awards category than a dance class.

- The AMAs ceremony is happening in Los Angeles on 18 Nov.

And that's all. Oh, bar the noms:

Artist Of The Year: Justin Bieber, Drake, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, Rihanna.

New Artist Of The Year: J Cole, fun., Gotye, Carly Rae Jepsen, One Direction.

Favourite Male Pop/Rock Artist: Justin Bieber, Flo Rida, Pitbull, Usher.

Favourite Female Pop/Rock Artist: Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Rihanna.

Favourite Pop/Rock Band, Duo Or Group: fun., Maroon 5, One Direction, The Wanted.

Favourite Pop/Rock Album: Justin Bieber - Believe, Maroon 5 - Overexposed, Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, One Direction - Up All Night.

Favourite Rap/Hip Hop Artist: Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tyga.

Favourite Rap/Hip Hop Album: J Cole - Cole World: The Sideline Story, Drake - Take Care, Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.

Favourite Male Soul/R&B Artist: Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Usher.

Favourite Female Soul/R&B Artist: Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Rihanna.

Favourite Soul/R&B Album: Chris Brown - Fortune, Rihanna - Talk That Talk, Usher - Looking 4 Myself.

Favourite Alternative Rock Artist: The Black Keys, Gotye, Linkin Park.

Favourite Adult Contemporary Artist: Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Train.

Favourite Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist: David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Skrillex.

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STUDENT RADIO AWARD NOMS ANNOUNCED
The noms are out for this year's Student Radio Awards, organised by the Student Radio Association, and supported by the BBC and Global Radio. Sunderland-based Spark FM leads the proceedings with eleven nominations in total. The awards will be presented on 8 Nov in London town.

Here's your noms list people:

Best Live Event or Outside Broadcast: Varsity 2012, RaW 1251am (Warwick); May Bumps 2012, Cam FM (Cambridge); Elections coverage 2012, CSR (Canterbury); Sherlock Holmes And The Hordes Of Dracula, Xpress Radio (Cardiff); The Forum Opening, Xpression FM (Exeter); The Torch In Sunderland, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland).

Best Interview: Scott McGerty interviews Utah Saints, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland); Olivia with Ian Rankin, Fresh Air (Edinburgh); Scott McGerty Interviews the Far East Movement, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland); Rita Ora Interview, Mim Shaikh, LSRfm.com (Leeds); Anthony Horowitz Interview, John Wakefield, URY (York); My Boy Daniel, Ivan Lehane, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland).

Best Student Radio Chart Show: Xpression FM (Exeter); Radio Sonar (Southampton); Forge Radio (Sheffiled); Hub Radio (Bristol).

Best Technical Achievement: Clickteesside iPhone App, Click (Middlesbrough); S.U.R.F (Show Uploading & Recording Facility), BURST (Bristol); Bailrigg FM Field Switchboard, Bailrigg FM (Lancaster); Presenters First: A Unified Computing Experience, URY (York); OpenOB, Low-latency audio over IP for broadcast, Insanity (Egham); OCD Broadcast Content Management System, Insanity (Egham).

Best Journalistic Programming: The Pulse: Whose Lenton is it?, URN (Nottingham); URY (York) Newshour, URY (York); Trent Talk, Fly FM (Nottingham); The Science Show, URN (Nottingham); The Pulse: The Truth About Taxis, URN (Nottingham); Sabbatical Elections 2012, 1449AM URB Best Speech Programming (Bath); Hello, I'm Half-Caste, Smoke Radio (London); How I Lost My Faith, RaW 1251am (Warwick); Beyond Silence: Saving the Sounds of Spring, IC Radio (London); In The Stalls, URY (York); The Fo' Show, Cam FM (Cambridge); There's A Hair In My Soup, URN (Nottingham).

Best Specialist Music Programming: Dance Revolution, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland); Mim Shaikh Presents The Shaikh World Show, LSRfm.com (Leeds); Coco Electro, URY (York); Fly FM Saves Guitar Music!, Fly FM (Nottingham); The Hip-Hop Show, URN (Nottingham); Guy Larsen's Gypsy Doodle, Nerve Radio (Bournemouth).

Best Entertainment Programming: Weekday Breakfast with Scott, Jodie & Carl, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland); The Walktime Show, Tequila Radio (Cardiff); Dan and Murray, Pure FM (Portsmouth); The Chris Browning Show, Xpress Radio (Cardiff); The Tom Davies Show, RaW 1251am (Warwick); Drive Time with Richie Lee, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland).

Best Marketing & Station Sound: Fly FM (Nottingham); 107 Spark FM (Sunderland); 1350AM GU2 Radio (Guildford); Purple Radio (Durham); Radio Sonar (Southampton); URN (Nottingham).

Best Newcomer: Jenna Wild, CSR (Canterbury); Giles Gear, URN (Nottingham); George Page, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland); George O'Neill, URN (Nottingham); Abbie McCarthy, RaW 1251am (Warwick); Pete Robertson, Xpress (Cardiff).

Radio Best Male: Ethan O'Leary, 107 Spark FM (Sunderland); Jon Jackson, Demon FM (Leicester); Sean Thorne, Xpress Radio (Cardiff); Matthew Hemmaty, Shock Radio (Salford); Tom Watts, Fly FM (Nottingham); Jon Holmes, Smoke Radio (London).

Best Female: Rachael 'Coco' Cole, URY (York); Emma Bradshaw, URN (Nottingham); Hattie Pearson, Fuse FM (Manchester); Claire Chambers, Fly FM (Nottingham); Emma Real-Davies, Surge (Southampton); Erica Dancer, Demon FM (Leicester).

Best Student Station: 107 Spark FM (Sunderland); URN (Nottingham); URY (York); Xpress Radio (Cardiff); Purple Radio (Durham); Cam FM (Cambridge).

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ASCAP LONDON AWARDS PRESENTED
Following the BMI bash on Tuesday night, the US's other main collecting society for songwriters, ASCAP, held its London awards last night. Theirs specifically celebrates the achievements of British songwriters represented by ASCAP Stateside (whereas the BMI London Awards are pan-European these days).

Taio Cruz was named Songwriter Of The Year for the second year in a row, based on the continued airplay success of two tracks from his 'Rokstarr' album (released in 2010 in the US) and his contribution to David Guetta hit 'Without You'.

Meanwhile songwriter/producer Steve Mac picked up the Song Of The Year gong for co-penning a hit by American synthpop outfit Cobra Starship, 'You Make Me Feel', and Universal Music Publishing was declared Publisher Of The Year, having published the most songs being honoured for muchos airplay at the ASCAP event.

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ONE DIRECTION BREAK ANOTHER US CHART RECORD
Landing in at number three on the UK Singles Charts this week, behind Rihanna and Psy, was probably a bit of a disappoint for One Direction and their crazy, crazy fans, though a number three entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US is something to be celebrated.

Because, you see, that's the highest position any UK group has ever entered into the main Billboard songs chart with a new track in the countdown's 54 year history. Only Elton John has bettered that achievement, going straight in at number one in 1997, though he had a dead princess to help him, so that shouldn't count.

Although the Billboard chart takes sales and airplay data into account, it was shifting 341,000 copies of the 'Live While We're Young' single by download that assured the new 1D track such a high first week chart position, and surely that's what really counts.

This is also the first week ever when two British acts have had brand new songs enter the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously, with Adele's Bond theme 'Skyfall' entering at number eight. So well done her.

Though it's looking likely she'll be deprived a UK number one with the song by Swedish House Mafia this weekend. Unless MI6 to do the honourable thing and fiddle the figures behind the Official Chart Company's back, for the good of national pride and all. I mean, what are we paying those guys for anyway?

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BRIAN WILSON RESPONDS TO MIKE LOVE: "IT SORT OF FEELS LIKE WE'RE BEING FIRED"
Brian Wilson has responded to Mike Love's recent editorial in the LA Times with, hey, an editorial in the LA Times. What fun.

As previously reported, Love last week addressed rumours that he had fired Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks from the reunited Beach Boys in order to tour with his other founder-member-lite version of the group. He wrote: "I did not fire Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. I cannot fire Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. I am not his employer. I do not have such authority. And even if I did, I would never fire Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. I love Brian Wilson. We are partners. He's my cousin by birth and my brother in music".

But, he added, a series of smaller shows had long been booked in for the other incarnation of The Beach Boys, who he has been continually touring with over the years, and those commitments necessitated the end of the 50th anniversary reunion tour that had involved other founder members. Taking that line-up to such smaller venues wasn't viable, he added, concluding: "Like any good party, no one wanted it [the 50th anniversary tour] to end. However, that was impossible, given that we had already set up shows in smaller cities with a different configuration of the band ... It is not feasible, both logistically and economically, for the 50th anniversary tour to play these markets".

In his response, Wilson wrote in the LA Times: "As far as I know I can't be fired - that wouldn't be cool. [But] what's confusing is that, by Mike not wanting or letting Al, David and me tour with the band, it sort of feels like we're being fired".

He continued: "Mike kept saying throughout the tour, 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts', and both Al and I agree, which made us all think that he wanted to continue. We originally started out with 50 shows, but the success and the demand kept growing and we obliged. No one knew in the beginning that this was going to be so rewarding and popular with our fans. Once we got cooking we were all stoked!"

Claiming that Love's alternative Beach Boys tour meant the original-member-line-up had had to turn down shows at the likes of Madison Square Garden and The Hollywood Bowl, as well as a return to the UK, Wilson adds that he and Jardine are of the opinion that the fans get a better show when they are involved.

He concluded: "It's Al and my opinion that all of us together makes for a great representation of The Beach Boys. While I appreciate the nice cool things Mike said about me in his letter, and I do and always will love him as my cousin and bandmate, at the same time I'm still left wondering why he doesn't want to continue this great trip we're on. Al and I want to keep going because we believe we owe it to the music".

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SPACEGHOSTPURRP QUITTING "SHADY ASS RAP GAME"
A mere seven-ish months since signing to 4AD to release his studio debut 'Mysterious Phonk: The Chronicles Of Spaceghostpurrp', Miami MC Spaceghostpurrp has said he wants out of the "shady ass rap game". It appears he'd rather relinquish the solo spotlight to the Raider Klan, his OFWGKTA/A$AP Mob-style 'trillwave' collective.

Writing via Facebook, a disillusioned Purrp says: "I had a good year this year, and showed niggas I can still be successful by myself. [And] it was good to see a lot of celebs be on my wave this year, it was cool as fuck... but [now] it's all bout my Raider Klan fam. I won't be doing this shit no more, I learned a lot about this shady ass rap game... it's like monkey see monkey do, and I'm not that type of dude".

He rambled on: "I never wanted be the perfect lyricist or best beat maker, I wanted to be me and I'ma still be me... just not in the shady ass rap shit... I'm to real for it and when I say real I mean to ME... not nobody else... I'm done... GET READY FOR MY KLAN TO TAKE OVER".

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TORO Y MOI NAMES NEW RECORD
Chaz Bundick, who's been releasing under his dance alias Les Sins of late, has just confirmed details of a new LP credited to his original moniker, Toro Y Moi. 'Anything In Return', as it's to be titled, will arrive via Carpark Records on 21 Jan.

And Bundick has been speaking about his design for the new Toro Y Moi long player, the sequel to last year's lauded 'Underneath The Pine', to Interview Magazine. He's quoted as saying: "I was trying to make a pop record. People will be like, 'What is he doing?' I'm just trying to make sincere pop music that's not all processed and bubblegum. Underground isn't always relevant; I want to see what's popular, then put my own spin on it".

Tracklisting:

Harm in Change
Say That
So Many Details
Rose Quartz
Touch
Cola
Studies
High Living
Grown Up Calls
Cake
Day One
Never Matter
How's It Wrong

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DUCKTAILS DETAILS ENSEMBLE LP
Real Estate guitarist Matthew Mondanile has shared extra particulars about the new LP from his not-so-solo endeavour Ducktails.

Having named Joel Ford, Daniel Lopatin, Cults' Madeline Follin, Outer Limitz's Sam Mehran and - naturally - Real Estate as guest collaborators back in June, he's since named the record 'The Flower Lane'. It's set for release via Domino on 28 Jan, and this is its title track.

And now a tracklisting:

Ivy Covered House
The Flower Lane
Under Cover
Timothy Shy
Planet Phrom
Assistant Director
Sedan Magic
International Date Line
Letter of Intent
Academy Avenue

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YEASAYER SHARE REVISED LIVE DATES
Having postponed their entire European tour, as was initially meant to begin in September, last month citing "family reasons", Yeasayer have - as promised - replaced all cancelled shows with brand new December dates. Tickets for the original dates will remain valid.

The rescheduled UK dates are thus:

2 Dec: Glasgow, The Arches
3 Dec Manchester, Academy 2
4 Dec London, Shepherd's Bush Empire

The band have also set back the release of their new 'Fragrant World' single 'Reagan's Skeleton', meaning it now won't be out till 26 Nov.

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SAUNA YOUTH AND COLD PUMAS TO CO-HEADLINE TOUR
Garage punk bands Sauna Youth and Cold Pumas are headlining a tour in tandem, mostly to co-promote their respective new LPs 'Dreamlands' (out now) and 'Persistent Malaise' (out 5 Nov).

In that same style, here are dual SoundCloud extracts from the above long players, as are individually labelled Sauna Youth's 'PSI Girls' and Cold Pumas' 'Sherry Island'.

And the tour dates:

25 Oct: Kingston, The Cricketers
26 Oct: Brighton, Westhill Community Launch
27 Oct: Leeds, Whard Chambers
28 Oct: Sheffield, Audacious Art Experiment
29 Oct: Cambridge, Corner House
30 Oct: Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge
31 Oct: Swansea, Mozarts
1 Nov: Exeter, The Cavern
2 Nov: Canterbury, Marlow Theatre
3 Nov: London, Dalston Victoria

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FESTIVAL LINE-UP ADDITIONS

LE GUESS WHO, Utrecht, Holland, 29 Nov - 2 Dec: Matthew Dear, Lapalux, Cate Le Bon, FIDLAR, Bersarin Quartett, The Allah-Las, Chris Cohen, Dam Mantle, AmenRa, Mala In Cuba, Team Ghost, Chain and the Gang, Old Apparatus, Palmbomen, Night Beds, Sinkane, Oathbreaker, Erin Lang & The Foundlings, Land Observations, St Paul Psycho, Man From The South, Birdt. www.leguesswho.nl

PINKPOP, Landgraaf, The Netherlands, 14-16 Jun 2013: Green Day. www.pinkpop.nl

ROCK WERCHTER, Rotselaar, Belgium, 4-7 Jul 2013: Green Day. www.rochwerchter.be

SUPERSONIC, Custard Factory, Birmingham, 19-21 Oct: Justice Yeldham, Gnod, Free School, Six Organs Of Admittance, Merzbow, Savage Pencil. www.superosnicfestival.com

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DIZZEE RASCAL ASKED TO VOICE COCO POPS MONKEY
Dizzee Rascal has been asked to voice the Coco Pops monkey, or so the rapper has claimed on Twitter, while posting a picture of himself doing an impression of the Kellogg's promotional character.

Dizzee tweeted yesterday: "REAL TALK! I've just been asked to do the voice over for the Coco Pops monkey! I always wanted to be the Milky Bar Kid... Oh well!"

Whether or not the rapper, currently working on his next album while also about to appear on Calvin Harris's new long player, would consider the gig isn't clear, though the hastag he used on the photo - "#thisracismiskillingmeinside" - possibly suggests not.

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READING BOOKER PENGELLY DEPARTS FESTIVAL REPUBLIC, HADDARD JOINS IN LATITUDE ROLE
Festivals company Festival Republic has announced that Neil Pengelly is to leave the company after nearly two decades working on the firm's events. The booker joined what was then Mean Fiddler in 1990, and began working on the Reading Festival in 1994, and has helped lead that annual bash and its newer Leeds Festival sister event to new levels of success, booking 94 headliners along the way.

Confirming Pengelly's departure, Festival Republic chief Melvin Benn told CMU yesterday: "To say he will be missed by me and the rest of the team is an understatement and my thanks would be too gushing to write down and be acceptable to him! However, true to form from Neil, the festival comes first, and he will stay on through October and in an advisory and consultative role until March next year, to support his replacement who will pick up the challenge and excitement of booking the bill and the bands at the world's greatest twin site music festival".

Pengelly's replacement will join the company next month, but is still to be announced. Though Benn added: "My sorrow at seeing Neil go is tempered only by the confidence I have in welcoming his replacement to the FR team and the excitement I have in working with him to shape the next chapter at Reading and Leeds".

However, we do know for certain the name of another new recruit at Festival Republic, who will join the company on 31 Oct and have a particular focus on the firm's Latitude festival. Natasha Haddad joins the company from the MAMA Group, where she worked on various festivals, including Wilderness, Lovebox and especially The Great Escape, as well as promoting gigs for the current incarnation of Mean Fiddler (now part of MAMA rather than Benn's business, of course).

Confirming her new role, Haddad told CMU: "I am very excited to be joining Melvin and the Latitude team at Festival Republic. The past five years working with The Great Escape and the wider MAMA team across many different events and festivals have been invaluable, and I wish them all the best for years to come, however I can't wait to start working on the music programme at Latitude for 2013 and onwards".

And Benn added: "I am very pleased to be welcoming Natasha into the Festival Republic team and I look forward to working together on our vision for the eighth edition of Latitude and beyond. Natasha is well qualified having programmed a number of events and festivals in her previous roles and her addition to the team will, without a doubt, help to keep Latitude the unique and innovative event it already is".

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KICKSTARTER TO LAUNCH IN UK THIS MONTH
Kickstarter has confirmed that it will go live in the UK from 31 Oct, and creatives or entrepreneurs looking for financial support for new projects can register with the service now. Previously non-US based individuals wanting to use the crowd-sourcing website needed a partner or company based in America, but now UK-based people can use the service without that extra hassle.

Kickstarter, of course, is not specifically set up for music-based projects, unlike other crowd-sourcing/pre-sale platforms such as Pledge Music, though it has been used by a lot of music-types in the US, not least Amanda Palmer who raised the $1.2 million to finance her current album and tour via the service. Plans to launch Kickstarter properly in the UK were first announced in July.

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TONY LINKIN JOINS BIG MOUTH
Music PR firm Big Mouth Publicity has announced the recruitment of Tony Linkin, who previously worked with the agency's founders Steve Phillips and Jakub Blackman at both East West Records and subsequently at Coalition PR. Linkin took some away from the music business after Coalition PR was closed in 2009 following the death of its founder Rob Partridge, but has decided it's now time to return to the music publicity game, in a consultant role with his old colleagues' business.

Confirming his new role with Big Mouth, Linkin told CMU: "After the untimely death of Rob Partridge and the demise of Coalition PR I needed to take a breather and stretch my legs outside of PR. 'I may be gone a while', and I was, though not as Mick Jones said, 'to become a monk'. [But] the grass isn't always greener, and ultimately I missed the high highs and low lows of working as a PR. But it's a small world and I have decided to re-enter the fray with my old muckers Steve and Jak, with the second half still to play".

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AZOFF JUNIOR TO JOIN CAA
Jeffrey Azoff, son of Live Nation boss Irving, is leaving the US-based management firm founded by his father Front Line, which is now a Live Nation subsidiary, to join talent agency CAA. He will join the Creative Artists Agency on 22 Oct.

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MUZU ANNOUNCES MUSIC VIDEO APP FOR NEW WINDOWS OS
Dublin-based music video platform MUZU.TV has announced it is launching a new application for use on the upcoming Windows 8 operating system, that will offer an alterative way for PC users to access the firm's music video catalogue (other than via the web). MUZU already has a relationship with Microsoft via its music video app for the Xbox.

MUZU boss and co-founder Ciaran Bollard told CMU: "Developing one of the first music video applications on Windows 8 gives MUZU.TV a unique opportunity to take advantage of [the operating system's] huge scale and reach. Our goal is to provide our users with access to the best music video service and experience wherever and whenever they choose".

Meanwhile Microsoft's Caroline Phillips added: "MUZU is a really exciting application for Windows 8. It demonstrates the potential and opportunities that Windows 8 presents for developers to create the next generation of applications across multiple devices".

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PANDORA BOSS REVEALS SOME FIGURES
Possibly feeling that his company has been tarnished a little by the "streaming services underpay artists" mantra that is wheeled out every few weeks these days, the boss of US-based interactive radio service Pandora, Tim Westergren, has made some claims about how much certain artists are earning from their play on his service.

Says Westergren: "For over two thousand artists Pandora will pay over $10,000 dollars each over the next twelve months (including one of my favourites, the late jazz pianist Oscar Peterson), and for more than 800 we'll pay over $50,000, more than the income of the average American household. For top earners like Coldplay, Adele, Wiz Khalifa, Jason Aldean and others Pandora is already paying over $1 million each. [And] Drake and Lil Wayne are fast approaching a $3 million annual rate each".

That's presumably what is being paid to each artists' respective labels and publishers, and the acts themselves will likely be receiving quite a bit less, depending on their contracts and past earnings. But still, it's further proof that the streaming sector is paying ever bigger sums of money into the music business, and Westergren seems keen to tell us all that his company in particular is very much pro-artist.

Of course it's assumed bigger artists and rights owners are benefiting most from services like Spotify, because the major labels have almost certainly secured better deals than the little guys (which is why they never join in with the "streamers underpay" ranting), though as Pandora licences all of its rights via collective licensing organisations rather than labels and publishers direct, presumably the monies are distributed in a fairer fashion to those artists whose music is played. So, well done Tim.

Though, that said, while the Pandora chief was keen to be seen as an artist champion this week, he was also calling for his licensing costs to be lowered. As an online radio service Pandora has to pay royalties to both music publishers and record labels (the latter via SoundExchange), whereas FM radio services in the States only have to pay the former under the current copyright system.

Added Westergren: "It's hard to look at these numbers and not see that internet radio presents an incredible opportunity to build a better future for artists. Not only is it bringing tens of millions of listeners back to music, across hundreds of genres, but it is also enabling musicians to earn a living. [But] since Pandora accounts for just 6.53% of all radio listening in the US, it seems fundamentally unfair that other forms of radio that represent much larger shares of US radio listening pay substantially less to artists".

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ADAM BUXTON AND EDITH BOWMAN TO PRESENT 6MUSIC SHOW
Adam Buxton will return to the Saturday morning slot on BBC 6music for seven weeks in November and December, with Edith Bowman rather than his usual partner Joe Cornish. The first of the three hour shows will air at 10am on 17 Nov.

Buxton said: "I've missed being on the radio so I'm delighted 6music have let me back into the Big British Castle for a few weeks, albeit without Joe who is busy slaving in a dream factory somewhere. To stop me from shrivelling up with loneliness Edith Bowman is going to join me which I'm very excited about as she's intelligent, professional, Scottish and a woman; qualities I value highly and in which Joe was almost entirely lacking. I just hope she doesn't mind occasional shouting and stupidity".

Bowman added: "I'm a big fan of 6music and what it stands for so I am really excited to be joining the team and to be working with Adam. It's going to be incredible fun although I know I will have my work cut out trying to keep up with Adam's dance moves. It's also great to have two radio homes, with Radio 1 where I am continuing my Review Show and now 6".

And now, here is an amazing music video to celebrate.

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SARAH BRIGHTMAN TO VISIT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
Singer Sarah Brightman is to become the seventh person to join the elite club of space tourists, and while she's up there she plans to beat the likes of ZZ Top and Muse to the prize of being the first musician to perform in space.

After completing her next tour in 2013, Brightman will embark on six months of training with the Russian space agency Roscosmos before heading to the International Space Station at a yet to be announced date.

At a press conference in Moscow yesterday, she said: "This voyage is a product of a dream, my dream. Finally it can be a reality. I am more excited about this than anything I have done in my life to date".

It's not clear what setlist her performance in space might look like, but if it doesn't feature this then I think we'll all be very upset.

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