| CMU Daily - on the inside 25 Apr 2003 |
|
In today's CMU Daily:
• ISP's appeal against RIAA demands denied
• Rock sales beat pop
• Universal have hopes on 'Bavid Beckham of jazz'
• Now the Morrison family sue Doors duo over comeback
• Sinead O'Connor quits music
• Moffats' new band sign profit share deal with EMI
• 50 Cent to support shady in uk
• Another Dixie Chicks hit back
• Turnmills respond to club night shooting
• Multi-channel TV reaches ratings milestone
• Creed fans sue over poor show
• Coke look into mis-use of Vines man image
• Latifah gets another honour
• Albarn on album downloads
------------------------------------------------
CMU POP QUIZ
With Mr Scruff's remixed Sweetsmoke CD out end of May, here's a chance to win Scruff goodies (a mug, t-shirt and some vinyl). Email the answers to this week's pop quiz questions (all on an ad songs theme) to [email protected] by Sunday at 5pm to go into the draw to win the subscription.
Q1: The song - Royksopp's 'So Easy' - whose ad?
Q2: The song - DJ Shadow's 'Blood On The Motorway' - whose ad?
Q3: The song - Faithless' 'Sunday 8pm' - whose ad?
and today's question...
Q4: The song - Dandy Warhol's 'Bohemian Like You' - whose ad?
------------------------------------------------
ISP'S APPEAL AGAINST RIAA DEMANDS DENIED
As reported on Tuesday, the US Department of Justice has proclaimed that forcing ISP Verizon Internet Services to reveal the identity of customers who record labels have accused of uploading serious amounts of music would not violate first amendment rights of said customers. With that in mind the US District Court in the District of Columbia yesterday turned down Verizon's appeal against an RIAA subpoena to release the identify of a subscriber who they say has uploaded serious amounts of copyright music via the ISP's email servers. Verizon now have 14 days to decide what, if any, legal action they take next before handing over that subscriber's contacts.
Commenting on the decision RIAA President Cary Sherman told reporters: "A federal district court has again affirmed that the law which provides copyright holders with a process to identify infringers is both constitutional and appropriate. If users of pirate peer-to-peer sites don't want to be identified, they should not break the law by illegally distriburing music. Today's decision makes clear that these individuals cannot rely on their ISPs to shield them from accountability."
For his part, Verizon Sr VP/Deputy General John Thorne argued: "Today's ruling goes far beyond the interests of large copyright monopolists - such as RIAA - in enforcing its copyrights. This decision exposes anyone who uses the internet to potential predators, scam artists and crooks, including identity thieves and stalkers. We will continue to use every legal means available to protect our subscribers' privacy and will immediately seek a stay from the US Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals has already agreed to hear this important Internet privacy case on an expedited schedule.
Of course the subscriber in question is still in the dark as to their role in this landmark music copyright case.
---------------------------------------------
ROCK SALES BEAT POP
Latest sales figures from the BPI have confirmed that the bankability of all out pop is a thing of the past, with rock music selling more albums last year. It marks a turning point - back in 1999, something of a heyday for manufactured pop - pop sales were 13% ahead of rock. Now rock accounts for 33% of album sales while pop has slipped to 30%. Although pop still dominates in singles
sales for most record labels it is albums that bring in profits.
A spokesman for the BPI commented: "Rock benefited from highly anticipated releases by amongst others Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Oasis along with strong sales of back catalogue compilations from major artists such as Queen, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana and U2."
---------------------------------------------
UNIVERSAL HAVE HOPES ON 'DAVID BECKHAM OF JAZZ'
An untrained jazz wannabe from Wiltshire has just landed a £1million contract with Universal Music after convincing execs he could win both jazz and pop fans to become the "David Beckham of jazz". Jamie Cullum funded his first album 'Pointless Nostalgia' himself, which he then sold after gigs. He moved to London to get more gig work, and it was while performing in London he got noticed by a handful of a&rs who liked how he incorporated well know rock music into his jazz set.
Talking about his record deal and hopes for a successful career he told the BBC: "I think there are a lot of opportunities in the music business for different types of music at the moment, and it's a good time to be making records. I'm not playing hardcore free jazz, this is a lot more modern. I think it could open up a new market".
Universal Marketing Director Dickon Stainer added: "Jamie Cullum's destiny is to become to jazz what David Beckham is to football."
His first major release is expected in September - bosses hope to team him up with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.
---------------------------------------------
NOW THE MORRISON FAMILY SUE DOORS DUO OVER COMEBACK
More trouble for former Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger who have reformed the band. As previously reported fellow surviving member, drummer John Densmore, sued the duo after he claimed they started touring under the Doors name without his permission. Shortly afterwards former Police drummer Stewart Copeland, who took over drumming duties in the new band, quit after he fell out with Manzarek and Krieger and promptly sued them for his share of the profits.
Now the family of Jim Morrison are joining in - accusing his former bandmates of tarnishing the reputation of the seminal group by continuing to make new music and tour using the Doors name. George and Clara Morrison, and the parents of Morrison's late wife Pamela Courson, have filed a lawsuit in LA which alleges Manzarek and Krieger have "maliciously misappropriated" the Doors' name and logo in addition to using Morrison's poetry and photos without permission.
While no damages are specified in the lawsuit, the Morrisons and Coursons demand that the defendants "disgorge all profits which they have improperly received." Expect lots of Doors related legal wranglings in the not too distant future.
----------------------------------------------
Cinematic Orchestra - Man With a Movie Camera (Ninja Tune)
It's always interesting to hear music put in a context other than a band on a stage or record in a club. Things that dare to veer from the tried and tested path of the musical missionary position invariably fit into the pretentious novelty section, but the Cinematic Orchestra have not only proved that 'different' doesn't have to be contrived or affected, but surpassed all expectations with the launch of their 'Man With A Movie Camera' tour. Taking Dziga Vertov's seminal silent 1929 Russian docu-film about a day in the life of a cameraman, and writing a soundtrack, Jason Swinscoe succeeded in creating a sublime aural and visual experience - and this is the soundtrack album. While the film and the music form a glib symbiosis, the music stand alone as an audio narrative, ranging in mood from the humorous through the light-hearted to the dark and harrowing. As well as being an apposite live show the 17-track longplayer is utterly utterly beautiful. In the running for LP of the year. JG
Release date: 27 May
Press contact: Ninja Tune IH [all]
-----------------------------------------------
SINEAD O'CONNOR QUITS MUSIC
Sinead O'Connor, back in the limelight providing vocals on the current ADF single, has posted a message on her website to say she is quitting the music business. The message reads: "As of July 2003 I shall be retiring from the music business in order to pursue a different career. The last recordings I will make will be (believe it or not) a track for Dolly Parton's upcoming tribute album and a track for [Irish accordionist] Sharon Shannon's forthcoming album. I would request that as of July, since I seek no longer to be a 'famous' person, and instead I wish to live a 'normal' life, could people please afford me my privacy."
Although O'Connor has talked about quitting the music biz before, in more recent times she has talked about a number of different music projects she was interested in pursuing. It is probably the latest decision is linked to a fatigue syndrome that recently caused the O'Connor to cancel a string of support slots on Massive Attack's European tour.
-----------------------------------------------
MOFFATS' NEW BAND SIGN PROFIT SHARE DEAL WITH EMI
Do you remember the Candadian sibling band the Moffats, who released some stuff through EMI a few years back? Well, either way, they're back with a new rock act called Alberta's Hidell. More interesting than that, though, is the 'profit-sharing deal' they have signed with EMI Music Canada for their first album 'Up & Coming'. The deal will see the band stump up cash to cover some of the production and marketing costs of the album and take a cut of the profits in return. EMI will provide the rest of the marketing budget and an infrastructure for distributing the record around the world.
Jody Mitchell, Talent Acquisition and Artist Development Manger at EMI Canada, explained: "Because they came to the table with a finished master more or less, we contributed a certain amount of dollars to finish off the production of the record. We're going to contribute a marketing fund to it, but they're coming with their own marketing dollars, whatever funds that they've got. So in recognition of that financial contribution, it becomes more of a profit-sharing split of revenues after all above board costs are recouped. So it's a fair deal in that it allows both partners to share in success."
-----------------------------------------------
LIVE REVIEW: Graham Coxon / Stephen Malkmus at Royal Festival Hall on 18 Apr
It could be a rampaging brawl, head-to-head, England Vs USA, as two former mid-nineties indie band members clash in heavyweight duel. But then again, it's the RFH for God sake. Coxon is first on, in his first outing officially post-Blur. Looking timid behind a huge guitar on a vast stage he mumbles his way through acoustic tracks across his four solo albums. About half way through the band comes on and feedback-distortion action ensues. It's shambolic, yet somehow it's brilliant. The guy can't sing, let's be honest, and his guitar playing is certainly individual - but despite being known as the 'difficult one' he more than knows his way round a tune. Another man who certainly knows a tune is Stephen Malkmus, able to create the simplest cutest little doodle out of nothing has always been his forte. In many respects he can still do this, but here he decides to stretch that little doodle out for about 5 days at a time. While Coxon went through his back catalogue, Malkmus just sticks to his last and undeniably weakest 'Pig Lib', as with the whole night, it starts off good, then pales into insignificance. Britain -1, USA-0. DH
-----------------------------------------------
50 CENT TO SUPPORT SHADY IN UK
50 Cent has been confirmed as support at Eminem's Milton Keynes Bowl gigs in June. The dates will precede the UK release of '21 Questions', the second single from 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. According to the NME rumours has it both Eminem and 50 Cent may perform a low-key London show to warm-up for the Milton Keynes shows.
-----------------------------------------------
ANOTHER DIXIE CHICKS HIT BACK
More from the Dixie Chicks about the backlash against the band after Natalie Maines' anti-Bush comments in London. This time they are talking to Entertainment Weekly magazine, on whose cover they pose naked with words like 'Saddams Angels', 'Traitors', 'Brave', 'Dixie Sluts', ''Hero', 'Opinionated', 'Proud Americans', 'Boycott', 'Patriot', 'Peace', 'Shut Up' and 'Free Speech' written on their bodies. Inside Maines once again apologises for being disrespectful to Bush but again stresses she isn't happy with everything he is doing in the White House, adding "if George Dubya was here right now I'd have a lot of questions to ask him".
-----------------------------------------------
Staind - Price To Play (Warners/Flip)
Staind have really forged themselves a niche within the nu-metal/radio rock bracket with their grass-roots following and just-hard-enough vocal content and delivery. Although the guitars and drums don't carry that punch like the early stuff, the vocal distortion and grinding aggressive harmonies make for interesting listening and a track to get the kids thrashing about to. Expect the LP '14 shades of Grey' on 19 May. JG
Release date: 12 May
Press contact: Work Hard [all]
-----------------------------------------------
TURNMILLS RESPOND TO CLUB NIGHT SHOOTING
Following that shooting incident last weekend London club Turnmills have issued a formal statement and confirmed it will be business as usual this weekend. As previously reported one man was shot dead after shooting broke out inside, and then immediately outside, the club on Easter Sunday.
The statement reads: "We had carried out every possible safety precaution to make sure the night went as smoothly as it possibly could. Unfortunately, a great party inside was spoiled by an armed gang (who we must stress, were not our customers), who then stormed the club at a side entrance and went inside the building. Fortunately none of our staff, security or any of our customers were seriously injured. As a safety precaution we were therefore forced to cease the night and evacuate the club." Although noting that the club night which was taking place last weekend has been run without incident for 22 weeks they added: "We are now very sorry to say that the night in question will be cancelled with immediate effect and we are very shocked and saddened by the incident that happened last Sunday night."
But venue management confirmed this weekend's nights - including The Gallery's eight birthday party and The Boutique's seventh birthday party - will go ahead as planned.
-----------------------------------------------
MULTI-CHANNEL TV REACHES RATINGS MILESTONE
Multi-channel TV reached a milestone last weekend with the latest ratings suggesting that the combined viewing figures for all multi-channel (ie non-terrestrial) stations beat the combined viewing figures of the terrestrial channels for the first time. The likes of Sky One, Sky Sports and MTV hit new viewing figure highs last week, which some industry insiders reckon will threaten the BBC's long term claim to a licence fee and ITV's long term position as the dominant TV advertising platform.
Although BBC1 and ITV1 are still by far the most watched channels (respectively taking 23.9% and 23.8% of audience over the weekend) the latest figures are important because they take into account viewers in the 50% of households that don't have access to non-terrestrial channels. Therefore viewing of the digital channels in multi-channel households is now sufficiently high for that sector to compete across the board - and the sector can only benefit as the Sky and Freeview multi-channel platforms continue to grow in reach.
Among the shows which helped take viewers away from the terrestrial channels were the Manchester United / Arsenal showdown on Sky Sports, the 300th episode of the Simpsons and new Buffy and Angel on Sky One and E4's airing of new Friends a day ahead of Channel 4.
-----------------------------------------------
CREED FANS SUE OVER POOR SHOW
Four Creed fans are suing the band after that concert in January where front man Scott Stapp's performance was so poor floods of complaints followed. According to Rolling Stone magazine the four fans are demanding to get back the $56.75 each they spent on tickets, service charges and parking fees on the basis that: "Stapp left the stage on several occasions during songs for long periods of time, rolled around on the floor of the stage in apparent pain or distress and appeared to pass out while onstage during the performance."
As previously reported, the band apologised for their performance after a barrage of complaints from fans. In a statement they said: "We apologise if you don't feel that the show was up to the very high standards set by our previous shows. We also understand and appreciate the fact that there has been much concern about Scott's health. He is taking a much needed break at home in Orlando. For now, we hope that you can take some solace in the fact that you definitely experienced the most unique of all Creed shows."
-----------------------------------------------
COKE LOOK INTO MIS-USE OF VINES MAN IMAGE
Coca-Cola have said they are seeking legal advice after it appeared that they had used an image of The Vines frontman Craig Nicholls for their Collect A Can promotion without his permission. The use of the image was first spotted by fans and the discovery was posted on a fan site's message board. The band have since stressed no permission was given for the use of the picture though it remains to be seen if they take any action against the drinks company.
-----------------------------------------------
LATIFAH GETS ANOTHER HONOUR
A very good year for Queen Latifah has been topped off with the title of Entertainer of the Year - which she will pick up at this year's Essence Awards - considered by many as the most prestigious awards show for black Americans. The award follows her Best Supporting Actress nominations at the Oscars and Golden Globes for her critically acclaimed performance in 'Chicago'.
-----------------------------------------------
ALBARN ON ALBUM DOWNLOADS
Damon Albarn has been commenting on one of the stranger side effects of having your album find its way online before release. After performing new material from the 'Think Tank' album at a few gigs the Blur man commented: "The gigs are going down really well helped by the fact that the album has been on the internet for two months and everybody knows all the words to every song, which is weird."