THURSDAY
10 JAN 2013

WHAT IS THIS?
The CMU Daily, to which you are subscribed. Unsubscribe info is at the end of the bulletin.

CLICK HERE to read this online

SUBSCRIBE:
Colleagues who want to subscribe can do so for free here online.

NOTE: Make sure you enable images to see this e-bulletin properly.

 
PLAYLIST: CMU RE-APPROVED
The world of new music can be an exhausting, confusing and overwhelming one. Hence we thought we'd kick off 2013's run of playlists by looking back at ten tracks that have appeared in the CMU Approved column over the last few months. As with the first CMU Re-Approved playlist, they may be tracks you missed in the rush, or ones that simply deserve revisiting now that the dust thrown up by their original appearance has settled more>>
 
APPROVED: THE MEN
The Men are back and toting new single 'Electric', whose 22 Jan release date antecedes that of the band's fourth long player 'New Moon'. Whilst in the past, and perhaps made most evident in tracks like 'Bataile', the band's standard sonic stance came cased in a corona of steel and bile, teeth bared, last year's 'Open Your Heart' was, in its way, less so, and at ease revelling in devil-may-care blues, fraught instrumentals and even strange shaman chants more>>


TOP STORIES
- Reissue labels capitalise on 'Love Me Do' going public domain as IPO begins consultation on copyright extension
- Play.com to shut down retail site, will become marketplace
IN THE POP HOSPITAL
- Wilko Johnson diagnosed with terminal cancer
AWARDS & CONTESTS
- European Festival Awards presented
- Choice Music Prize shortlist announced
CHARTS, STATS & POLLS
- David Bowie single missing from midweeks
ARTIST DEALS
- Petite Noir signs to Double Six
- Antlered Man sign to Cooking Vinyl Publishing
RELEASE NEWS
- Keith Richards and Tom Waits release pirate duet
- Willow Smith shares new track as Arbre Mort
- Efterklang one-sided LP to get digital release
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club detail LP
GIGS & TOURS NEWS
- Tim Burgess and Lambchop to play London Barbican
- Amateur Best sets live debut
- Wolf Alice to tour
FESTIVAL NEWS
- Festival line-up update
BRANDS & STUFF
- Nicki Minaj and Adam Levine to co-design Kmart line
THE MUSIC BUSINESS
- Cowell takes nearly £900,000 salary from one of his companies
THE DIGITAL BUSINESS
- Bloom.fm officially launches
THE MEDIA BUSINESS
- Spears to bail on X-Factor, says TMZ
AND FINALLY...
- Lily Allen gives birth to second daughter
MLPJ ENTERTAINMENT - PROJECT ASSISTANT (PAID INTERNSHIP)
MLPJ Entertainment is looking for a highly motivated and multi-talented intern to help the company with its current list of clients and its plan for growth. Working very closely with the two founding partners on every aspect of the business

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
   
EMMS PUBLICITY - FREELANCE MUSIC PR
Long established boutique PR company EMMS Publicity is expanding and looking for an experienced Music PR Freelancer, 2-3 days a week. You should have a proven track record of working high profile releases, launching new artists and bringing in new business.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
   
THE OTHER HAND - LABEL ASSISTANT
The Other Hand is a London-based label services company providing European representation to US labels Stones Throw, Rhymesayers, Daptone, Now-Again and Innovative Leisure. We also have an in-house label, One-Handed Music, a management company, and we work on some one-off consultancy projects.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
   
SKULLCANDY UK - PR AND EXPERIENTAL ACCOUNT MANAGER
The Kinc is a sports and lifestyle agency for high energy brands, rights holders and individual talent. We have an exciting new role that has become available working on our long term client Skullcandy, a global leader in the headphones and audio market.

For more information including a full job description and how to apply click here.
   
KUDOS RECORDS - LABEL MANAGER
In 2012, Kudos Records celebrated its 20th year in music distribution, and its 6th straight year of uninterrupted growth. There now exists a rare opportunity to join our sales and label management team. Core responsibilities include developing and nurturing our distribution roster and maintaining sales to a selection of UK and overseas accounts and sub-distributors.

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

ADVERT: MUSIC BUSINESS SCHOOL
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 and 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.

Check out our new guest speaker programme here.

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.

Prices start at £495, next course starts 23 Jan.

See our website for full details.


REISSUE LABELS CAPITALISE ON 'LOVE ME DO' GOING PUBLIC DOMAIN AS IPO BEGINS CONSULTATION ON COPYRIGHT EXTENSION
Two small independent labels have released versions of Beatles track 'Love Me Do', which officially fell out of copyright on 31 Dec, even though the sound recording copyright term is in the process of being extended in Europe.

As much previously reported, the European record industry lobbied for years for the copyright term enjoyed by sound recordings to be extended from the current 50 years. European labels really wanted parity with the US, where the sound recording copyright term is 95 years, but in the end politicians in Brussels approved an extension to 70.

The UK government initially opposed the term extension, but was persuaded to back the 70 year term in 2009, mainly because of the small community of aging session musicians who earn royalties from the 1960s hits they were involved in, thanks to a rule that says any recording artists involved in a recording are due a cut of public performance royalties via collecting society PPL, oblivious of past agreements with the labels who released and likely own said recordings.

As copyright terms must be the same across the European Union, once it backed the 70 year term, the British government had to persuade its counterparts in Brussels to support the extension. Although the European Commission and Parliament approved the move, some member states opposed the extension in the EU Council, which delayed things somewhat.

For the UK record industry there was an urgency, because its catalogue of mid-1960s recordings, including key Beatles and Rolling Stones releases, which still generate sizable revenues, was approaching the end of its 50 year term. The deadline was always informally set at 2012, the 50th anniversary of the release of the first Beatles' single 'Love Me Do'.

At a European level the deadline was technically met, and the 70 year term was approved in September 2011. However, the extension then had to be incorporated into the law of each EU member state, with the requirements of the copyright extension directive needing to be interpreted in the context of each European copyright system. That is set to be done by November this year.

The UK's Intellectual Property Office began that work just last week, opening a consultation on the matter. The rights and wrongs of the sound recording copyright term extending to 70 years (and not everyone agrees it's a good idea) is not up for debate, however there are some technicalities that need working out.

In particular, there will be a 'use it or lose it' clause, that will mean that labels must ensure that recordings 50 year old and over are available for consumption and purchase, otherwise a featured artist will be able to claim control of the copyright. Quite what 'making available' means, and how featured artists will go about claiming control, is still to be worked out.

Input on all of that is being welcomed by the IPO until 4 Mar this year. How quickly UK copyright law will then be amended isn't clear, though under European Union rules the extension must be in place by November. Because sound recordings actually go 'public domain' at the end of the year in which the 50 year term expires, that means that anything released in 1963 will get the 70 year term.

However, those recordings released in 1962 went into public domain at the end of last month, and as the extension will not be applied retrospectively, they will remain out of copyright. And that includes the original recording of 'Love Me Do' and its b-side 'PS I Love You'.

The copyright in the songs, of course, are not affected, because they are subject to a different term (life of the creators - ie Lennon and McCartney - plus 70 years), but providing the songs' publishers are paid a licence fee, it means anyone can distribute those original recordings without the permission of their former owners, EMI, or now Universal Music.

And first to seemingly capitalise on that fact is a company called Digital Remasterings, which has included 'Love Me Do' on a compilation of very early Beatles recordings, mainly live recordings from their time working at Hamburg's Star Club. Meanwhile a company called Pristine Classical, which specialises in releasing remastered versions of out-of-copyright classical recordings, has issued its own remaster of 'Love Me Do', seemingly in protest at the copyright extension.

Universal, of course, will still have the exclusive rights to distribute 'Love Me Do' alongside the rest of the Beatles catalogue in Europe, and will still own subsequent official reworks of the original recording, but that one Beatles song (and its b-side) falling out of copyright is nevertheless an interesting little epilogue to the term extension story.

In related news, a very limited edition release of early Bob Dylan recordings, called the 'The Copyright Extension Collection, Vol 1', has been distributed in various European record shops, seemingly to ensure the copyright owners don't fall foul of the 'use it or lose it' clause as it is incorporated into copyright systems around Europe.

back to top

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

PLAY.COM TO SHUT DOWN RETAIL SITE, WILL BECOME MARKETPLACE
Play.com is no more, or at least the Play.com you know will be offline very soon. The parent company of the sometimes controversial mail-order website, perhaps best known for selling CDs and DVDs, yesterday announced that it was closing down the Play.com-branded mail-order operation, but would continue to operate its website as a marketplace for third party retailers.

Play.com was one of the first online operations to really capitalise on the tax benefits of selling low-cost mail-order products from the Channel Islands into the UK. As much previously reported, a tax exemption called Low Value Consignment Relief meant that such operators - based outside the European Union but within the customs zone - didn't have to charge VAT on products under £18, giving them a 15-20% advantage over mainland retailers.

Founded in 1998 just as web-based mail order was taking off, although Play.com moved into other product areas where prices were not low enough for LVCR to apply, low-cost entertainment products remained key to the operation. Many other CD sellers followed Play.com's lead in locating to the Channel Islands, of course, including the bigger British high street retailers who could afford an off-shore base (either directly, or by employing the services of companies like The Hut).

But the use of LVCR in this way - which saw ships full of CDs and DVDs sail from the UK to Jersey and Guernsey, to be mailed back one by one to the British mainland - was controversial and, it was eventually proven, an abuse of European tax laws. Many argue it also accelerated the demise of traditional music retail in the UK, with independent retailers unable to share in the web-led boom in mail-order, because if they set up their own mail-order sites from within the UK they could never afford to compete on price against Play.com et al.

After years of campaigning, UK Chancellor Of The Exchequer finally axed the tax relief for Channel Island-based companies last April. Since then many mail-order companies, many of whom for years insisted that they were Jersey or Guernsey-based for reasons other than the VAT-break, have shut their operations on the islands. Some have been investigating ways to continue using the LVCR benefit that still applies to other non-EU territories, though there are logistical and customs challenges. Which is perhaps why some are just considering giving up. Such as Play.com.

The company's founders cleverly got out of the business once it became clear the UK government was finally going to act over LVCR abuse, selling to Japan's largest online retailer Rakuten for £25 million in September 2011. It was already known at the time that Play.com would likely lose its 20% advantage on CDs and DVDs, but Rakuten seemed to think the wider Play business was now sufficiently diverse to weather that storm.

At the time of the sale, Rakuten boss Hiroshi Mikitani said: "Play.com is not only a pioneer in the market but also one of the UK's most successful e-commerce businesses. We aim to leverage our e-commerce strength and experience to further expand and develop Play.com's business model and channel its loyal user base, merchants, and deep product offerings into Rakuten's global e-commerce network".

But it would seem tax-free entertainment products were more key to Play.com than Rakuten realised, though when confirming that the company would no longer be selling goods itself yesterday, the firm's current operators insisted that its marketplace platform - which allows other retailers to sell goods online - was "our main business area" anyway.

The shift means Play.com will pull out of Jersey completely, making 147 staff redundant. The streamlined firm will still have a base in Cambridge, with about 200 staff expected to remain with the restructured operation. The shut down of the main Play.com retail business will also result in over 60 redundancies in the UK. It's thought that now about 550 Jersey people have now lost their jobs as a result of the removal of LCVR from Channel Islands operations.

Commenting on the development, Jersey's Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean told the BBC: "I'm saddened, this is a Jersey business, set up in the island that did extraordinarily well, that became a global brand. We will work with other businesses and entrepreneurs to help them develop the next Play.com".

Speaking for RAVAS, the campaigning group that successfully lobbied for the ending of LVCR abuse in the Channel islands, Richard Allen told CMU: "In 2004 a number of major retailers complained to the UK Treasury about the avoidance of VAT by Play.com and the damage that the allowance of Play.com's offshore operation was doing to UK internet and high street retail. Play.com were innovators in LVCR-based music retail and the allowance of their business model by the UK authorities was responsible for the subsequent stampede of UK online retail to the Channel Islands. The simple reason UK business went there was because they couldn't compete with Play.com because, unlike Play.com, they had to pay VAT".

He continues: "It is somewhat of a vindication for RAVAS and those who have supported us that Play.com finally admits that LVCR was the backbone of its business. Whilst we do not relish the fact people have lost their jobs, we hope this marks the beginning of the end of LVCR-based VAT avoidance schemes which do nothing more than damage livelihoods and siphon tax income and employment out of the UK. Both the UK and Jersey Governments have a lot to answer for in allowing this trade, particularly Jersey who wasted a million pounds - on a pointless judicial review [to try to stop the axing of LVCR] - that they could have given to those who have lost their jobs".

back to top


WILKO JOHNSON DIAGNOSED WITH TERMINAL CANCER
Former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson has been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the pancreas, his manager Robert Hoy announced yesterday. He has opted not to receive chemotherapy.

Hoy wrote in a post on Johnson's Facebook page: "He is currently in good spirits, is not yet suffering any physical effects and can expect to enjoy at least another few months of reasonable health and activity. He has just set off on a trip to Japan; on his return we plan to complete a new CD, make a short tour of France, then give a series of farewell gigs in the UK. There is also a live DVD in the pipeline, filmed on the last UK tour".

Johnson formed Dr Feelgood in 1971 with singer Lee Brilleaux, bassist John 'The Big Figure' Martin and drummer John 'Sparko' Sparks. Centred on Johnson's distinctive guitar sound, they were best known as a live band, and it was their 1976 live album 'Stupidity' that was their most successful recording, reaching number one in the UK.

Shortly afterwards in March 1977, Johnson left the band, to be replaced by John 'Gypie' Mayo. Although their next album, 'Sneakin Suspicion', went to number ten, the band's popularity waned after this. Mayo left the group in 1981, followed in 1982 by Martin and Sparks. Brilleaux continued as the band's only original member with a varying line-up until his death in 1994. The band continues today with no members of the original line-up.

In 2009, Johnson appeared in 'Oil City Confidental', a Julien Temple-directed documentary about his live growing up on Canvey Island and with Dr Feelgood. After producers of HBO series 'Games Of Thrones' saw him in the film, he was invited to appear in the series, playing the role of mute executioner Ilyn Payne in five episodes over its first and second series.

back to top


EUROPEAN FESTIVAL AWARDS PRESENTED
With the Eurosonic convention and showcase festival now up and running over there in Gronigen, last night the Festival Awards Europe were dished out, the pan-European version of the UK Festival Awards. Over a million festival-goers voted this year, and, in a nod to the good old EDM boom of 2012, a dance festival took the Best Major Festival prize for the very first time, in the form of Belgium's Tomorrowland. Dance events also won Best Indoor Festival and Best New Festival, Dutch event Sensation and Germany's Electro Magnetic respectively.

Commenting, Festival Awards co-founder Steve Jenner told CMU: "This edition of the European Festival Awards has been a great and much needed celebration for the industry as a united whole. A significant increase in events rallying to take part suggests a healthy display of confidence, competitiveness and pride. The staggering number of public votes received shows that people's appetites for festivals have never been greater. In the face of toughening conditions, the forecast still looks bright for Europe's festival market".

And look, have a list of winners...

PUBLIC VOTED
Best Major Festival: Tomorrowland (Belgium)
Best Medium-Sized Festival: Heineken Balaton Sound (Hungary)
Best Small Festival: Tauron New Music Festival (Poland)
Best European Festival Line-Up: Rock Am Ring/ Rock Im Park (Germany)
Best Indoor Festival: Sensation (Netherlands)
Best New Festival: Electro Magnetic (Germany)
Headliner Of The Year: Foo Fighters
Newcomer Of The Year: Of Monsters And Men
Festival Anthem Of The Year: Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers

JUDGING PANEL VOTED
The Lifetime Achievement Award: Herman Schueremans (Live Nation Belgium)
Promoter Of The Year: Pukkelpop (Belgium)
Artists' Favourite Festival: Roskilde (Denmark)
Green Operations Award: We Love Green (France)

back to top

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

CHOICE MUSIC PRIZE SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
The shortlist is out for the Meteor Choice Music Prize, which is sort of the Irish Mercury Prize (even though the Mercury Prize is the Irish Mercury Prize). Selected by a panel of media and industry types, an overall winner will be selected and presented 10,000 euros on 7 Mar.

Shortlist...
Wallis Bird - Wallis Bird (Rubyworks)
The Cast of Cheers - Family (Schoolboy Error)
Adrian Crowley - I See Three Birds Flying (Chemikal Underground)
Delorentos - Little Sparks (Delo Records)
Damien Dempsey - Almighty Love (Sony)
Julie Feeney - Clocks (Mittens)
Heathers - Kingdom (Warner Music)
Mumblin Deaf Ro - Dictionary Crimes (Popical Island)
Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon (Kitsune)
Windings - I Am Not The Crow (Out On A Limb)

back to top


DAVID BOWIE SINGLE MISSING FROM MIDWEEKS
David Bowie took everyone by surprise on Tuesday by releasing his first new material for a decade, the single 'Where Are We Now?'. But the track doesn't feature in yesterday's midweek singles chart, as published by the Official Charts Company. It turns out that this is because, even at 66 years old, Bowie still refuses to play by the rules.

In a statement, the OCC said: "Owing to chart rules which are agreed in partnership with UK record companies and retailers, data relating to the David Bowie single 'Where Are We Now?' cannot currently be counted towards the official singles charts, as the release is linked to an album pre-order promotion and it is not possible to distinguish album sales from track sales from the retail data received".

With Bowie currently riding atop the iTunes singles chart, many accused the Official Charts Company of disqualifying him from taking his rightful place above Will.i.am and Britney Spears, who are number one in the midweeks with their track, 'Scream & Shout'.

But it's alright, you can all calm down, Bowie's still in with a chance, should the retailers' be able to work out which sales were single track downloads and which were part of the pre-order bundle. Something, amazingly, they've apparently never thought to do before.

The Official Charts Company confirmed to CMU yesterday: "Straight purchases of 'Where Are We Now?' (as opposed to free downloads tied to an album pre-order) are, in theory, perfectly eligible to chart based on chart rules. However, the volume of these types of straight purchases need to be separated out from the free downloads and reported to us from retailers. The necessary information for this Bowie release is simply unavailable to us, so cannot be counted until the data is made available".

Speaking of the new album, 'The Next Day', longtime Bowie producer Tony Visconti has been talking about it, telling BBC News: "We never spent more than two to three weeks at a time recording. Usually we'd work on one or two songs in an afternoon, and whip them into shape so they'd sound like great rock tracks. That's the way I've been working with him since 'The Man Who Sold The World' [and] he hasn't really changed in his approach".

He added: "['Where Are They Now?' is] maybe the only track on the album that goes this much inward for him. I thought to myself: 'Why is David coming out with this very slow, albeit beautiful, ballad? ... He should come out with a bang'. But he is a master of his own life. I think this was a very smart move, linking the past with the future, and I think the next thing you hear from him is going to be quite different".

The album is due for release on 12 Mar.

back to top


PETITE NOIR SIGNS TO DOUBLE SIX
South African musician Yannick Ilunga, aka the CMU Approved Petite Noir, has been announced as the latest signing to Domino's Double Six imprint. Currently working on his debut album, he will re-release his single 'Disappear', original put out last month by Bad Life, on 18 Feb.

Check out the video for 'Disappear' here.

back to top

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

ANTLERED MAN SIGN TO COOKING VINYL PUBLISHING
CMU Approved rock quartet Antlered Man have announced that they have signed a worldwide publishing contract with Cooking Vinyl. The deal comes as the band prepare to begin recording their second album with producer Rocky O'Reilly.

The band have also announced a clutch of tour dates for April and released a new live video.

Tour dates:

4 Apr: Norwich, Open
5 Apr: Leicester, Lock 42
6 Apr: Nottingham, Rock City
7 Apr: Rotherham, Magma

back to top


KEITH RICHARDS AND TOM WAITS RELEASE PIRATE DUET
A new duet by weathered music greats Keith Richards and Tom Waits, who've collaborated on various past projects, not least Waits' 2011 LP 'Bad As Me', has just been shared for all to hear.

'Shenandoah' features on 'Son Of Rogue's Gallery', a Johnny Depp-devised two-CD compilation of "Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys" also starring such guest buccaneers as Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Patti Smith and Sean Lennon.

That's set for release on 18 Feb, but in the meantime, do have a listen to 'Shenandoah'.

back to top

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

WILLOW SMITH SHARES NEW TRACK AS ARBRE MORT
Willow Smith - who's apparently in the throws of a kind of morose adolescent phase, despite being twelve - has shared a track via her new solo guise Arbre Mort (aka 'Dead Tree' in French).

The once-peppy 'Whip My Hair' poplet's new single features bars from Radiohead's 'Codex', and is titled 'Sugar And Spice'.

Ms Smith's Arbre Mort SoundCloud bio reads: "Hi my name is Willow. I have another account but I don't use that one as much lol. This is for my creativity to grow with no walls. Maulheureux [misery] bound".

back to top

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

EFTERKLANG ONE-SIDED LP TO GET DIGITAL RELEASE
A three track release by Efterklang, recorded for Burnt Toast Vinyl's One-Sided LP series in 2006 and previously only available on vinyl, will be released digitally by The Leaf Label later this month.

Featuring a track with Danish singer Martin Hall, plus contributions from Amiina's Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir and Hildur Àrsælsdóttir, it will be available from 21 Jan.

The vinyl edition, if that sounds more up your street, is still available form Burnt Toast. And here is the tracklist:

Falling Post
God Vind, Kaptajn!
Tu Es Mon Image (feat Martin Hall)

back to top

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

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB DETAIL LP
The new LP Black Rebel Motorcycle Club first mentioned back in November now has a title, release date, and other such essential specifics. 'Specter At The Feast' is to be siphoned onto shelves via the band's own label, Abstract Dragon Records, on 18 Mar.

Original BRMC-er Robert Levon Been makes a mandatory 'making of' speech: "This record took a long time to pull together. I think we all reached the breaking point after our last tour and needed to step back for a bit. These songs brought us back to life and gave us a second chance. I've never been more excited to play an album live before, these songs were born to be loud".

back to top




TIM BURGESS AND LAMBCHOP TO PLAY LONDON BARBICAN
Moonlighting Charlatan Tim Burgess is going to perform a special live set featuring tracks from his new solo LP, 'Oh No I Love You'. He'll share a stage with Lambchop's Kurt Wagner, who wrote the record's lyrics.

The pair will appear at London's Barbican on 23 Jun. Event details and tickets (on sale as of 11 Jan) are available at this link.

back to top

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

AMATEUR BEST SETS LIVE DEBUT
Synth-pop character Amateur Best, real name Joe Flory, is making a very exceptional public appearance at London's Rough Trade East on 8 Feb. Exceptional, in that Flory has never before played live as Amateur Best, and does so for the first time to advertise his first AB LP, 'No Thrills', which is released via Double Denim on 4 Feb.

back to top

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

WOLF ALICE TO TOUR
Grunge-age pop youths Wolf Alice are touting new single 'Fluffy' prior to its release via Chess Club on 11 Feb - and as such have arranged their debut tour proper via which to live-promote it.

If you so choose, you can hear 'Fluffy' and view the tour's individual dates now:

11 Feb: London, The Waiting Room
15 Feb: Portsmouth, Registry
16 Feb: Brighton, The Hope
20 Feb: Leeds, Nation Of Shopkeepers
21 Feb: Manchester, TROF Fallowfield
22 Feb: Sheffield, The Great Gatsby
23 Feb: Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge

back to top


FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE
Lots of additions at various Euro festivals to share today, as triple-sized rock romp Slam Dunk and Danish uber-fest Roskilde enlarge their respective artist lists. Croatia's Garden Festival makes a move towards alt-dance supremacy by naming the first acts who'll be appearing on the island of Tisno in July. And now, all that info summarised:

GARDEN FESTIVAL, Tisno, Croatia, 3-10 Jul: Theo Parrish, Bicep, Huxley, Eats Everything, Maurice Fulton, Tim Sweeney, Brawther, Young Marco, Auntie Flo, Paqua, Crazy P, Claremont 56, Beats In Space, Louche, Wolf Music. www.thegardenfestival.eu

ROSKILDE, Denmark, 29 Jun - 7 Jul: Animal Collective, Action Bronson, Danny Brown, Flatbush Zombies, Joey Bada$$. www.roskilde-festival.dk

SLAM DUNK, Leeds University/South Hertfordshire University/Wolverhampton Civic, 25-27 May: Sleeping With Sirens, Memphis May Fire, Man Overboard, Andrew McMahon, MC Lars, The Summer Set, Mallory Knox. www.slamdunkmusic.com/slam-dunk-festival

back to top


NICKI MINAJ AND ADAM LEVINE TO CO-DESIGN KMART LINE
Rival pop-contest judiciaries Nicki Minaj and Adam Levine have each been invited by American retail titan Kmart to design fashion and 'lifestyle' lines to be sold in its many, many branches, as well as online via deals/rewards-based franchise ShopYourWay.com.

But wait, please stifle that cynical yawn whilst you hear what Nicki has to say about her 'inspirational' new project. And that is: "I am so excited to work with this iconic mass retailer and to bring affordable fashion to my beautiful Barbz [they're her fans] all across the US".

Executive VP of Marketing & Online at Kmart/ShopYourWay parent Sears Holdings, Imran Kooma, deferentially adds: "We are thrilled to align Kmart and Shop Your Way with two of America's superstars. We welcome Adam and Nicki into our world and look forward to capturing their energy and creativity on ShopYourWay.com and translating it into unique apparel, accessories and other merchandise".

back to top


COWELL TAKES NEARLY £900,000 SALARY FROM ONE OF HIS COMPANIES
Simon Cowell took a £896,935 salary from one of his limited companies in 2011/2012 according to accounts filed with Companies House, and is also owed money by the entity.

Maidmetal is one of Cowell's companies, described as being involved in 'developing talent and intellectual property'. It's not known which of Cowell's projects are funnelled through Maidmetal, though he is the sole director of the business and owns 99.9% of the shares.

Cowell's main companies, of course, fall under the Simco umbrella, his joint venture with Sony Music that operates as Syco, though he has various other interests too. As previously reported, a separate set of Companies House accounts showed that Simco made £22.9 million in profits in 2011/12, a massive increase on the previous year mainly as a result of Syco's increased US-based TV output.

back to top


BLOOM.FM OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES
Bloom.fm, the streaming music service from the people who created the short lived mflow, has just launched a new mobile-based offer currently available for Apple devices which will combine interactive radio, on-demand streaming and pay-as-you-go offline playback.

The latter element is the USP. The Bloom.fm service will offer three levels of subscription for people who want full mobile functionality. Like Spotify et al, £10 a month will get you full access to the streaming service's catalogue via mobile, with played tracks downloading to the mobile device to allow offline listening. But consumers will also be able to choose a £5 a month option (up to 200 tracks stored on device) or one pound a month level (20 tracks). Subscriptions can be paid online or from within the app (though the latter way will be slightly more expensive to cover Apple charges).

Launching the new app, which follows a year of development of the Bloom.fm service, the company's CTO Thong Nguyen told CMU: "From the very beginning we wanted to design Bloom specifically for mobile; to take advantage of the touchscreen with a unique interface that contributes to the user experience rather than take away from it. Music excites people and we think software should too!"

Bloom.fm boss Oleg Fomenko added: "We are very encouraged by the industry-wide support - from the likes of Universal, Sony Music, EMI, Beggars, Orchard, PIAS, INgrooves and dozens more indie labels - for our desire to bring a service to the UK consumer that is not only beautiful and easy to use, but also offers an amazing entry price of only £1 a month. We believe that Bloom.fm will excite millions of music lovers who find existing price points too high for their needs and we hope our fantastic discovery features will help everyone find a new favourite artist".

back to top


SPEARS TO BAIL ON X-FACTOR, SAYS TMZ
Britney Spears will not be a judge on the next season of 'X-Factor', according to TMZ, which says that the singer departs the talent show on good terms with its makers, but has decided that she wants to concentrate on her in-development eighth album and a possible accompanying tour.

Says the gossip site: "We have unimpeachable sources who tell us Britney loves the show but wants to focus on her music ... which she is doing right now. Britney is in the studio recording her eighth album, with some help from Will.i.am and producer Hit-Boy, the brains behind Kanye and Jay-Z's 'Niggas In Paris'".

The source says: "Britney loves Simon [Cowell], she likes [fellow judge] Demi Lovato, but her thing is music".

back to top


LILY ALLEN GIVES BIRTH TO SECOND DAUGHTER
Lily Allen has given birth to her second child, another daughter who will be known as Marnie Rose. It's the singer's second child with husband Sam Cooper.

A friend told the Mirror: "Marnie is a real cutie. Sam and Lily are ecstatic about adding another girl to the family. A little sister for Ethel is great news for them".

Responding to online congratulations, Allen posted to Twitter this morning: "Quite overwhelmed by all the well wishing going on. THANK YOU everybody".

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.