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

What is CMU?

CMU is a UK-based 'online network' for everyone who makes, breaks, plays, plugs, writes, rates, champions and/or cherishes great new music. It exists to bring together everyone working in music, from the suits at the biggest music and media firms, to the people keeping it very real in the grass roots music community – whether they be artists, songwriters, club night promoters, fanzine editors, college radio presenters, student newspaper reviewers or simply those obsessive and vocal music fans which marketing types like to call opinion formers.

We endeavour to provide all these people with an 'insider guide' to the music business and all it creates – ensuring everyone has equal access to information on all the latest corporate wheelings and dealings, copyright shenanigans, digital music innovations, download upturns and retail downfalls, media and label launches and revamps, appointments, signings, releases, tours, litigation, arrests, feuds, fisticuffs and incidents of tabloid note, the drinking, the drug taking, the inappropriate remarks, and, let's not forget, the creation, launch and response of and to the very finest new music, of all kinds.

As you can see, it's quite a wide remit. We keep ourselves busy.

back to the questions

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

How do I access CMU?

You can access CMU through various e-bulletins and our website. Access to all these things is free.

Our primary output is the CMU Daily. This is a daily email bulletin with all the latest music news – a one stop round up of everything of note that has happened in music in the last 24 hours. The Daily is free. To subscribe, send a blank email to subscribe@cmudaily.co.uk or click here and subscribe through our online form.

Next is the CMU Weekly, a weekly email bulletin delivered every Friday afternoon and rounding up the week in music, with the biggest stories and quotes of the week, plus links to our favourite tracks and artists of the moment, interviews with bands about to release great new music, and a weekly competition. To subscribe send a blank email to subscribe@cmuweekly.co.uk or click here and subscribe through our online form.

Our other weekly email bulletin is the Remix Update, which is especially for those interested in dance music that rocks. It is produced in association with the Remix show on Xfm and rounds up the artists and music being championed by Remix chief Eddy Temple Morris. To subscribe send a blank email to subscribe@remixupdate.co.uk or click here and subscribe through our online form.

As well as the e-bulletins, there is theCMUwebsite.com. That's this website.

Here you will find the latest editions of the CMU Daily, CMU Weekly and Remix Update, plus back issues, including more or less every CMU Daily published since its launch in June 2002.

Also on the website you will find our Same Six Questions interviews with all our favourite bands, the CMU-Tube music video service, and our extensive links directory.

There are also two blogs.

The CMU News-Blog aggregates all the news stories that appear in the CMU Daily, providing a valuable and easy-to-navigate music business, music media and music news service for anyone who prefers to access our content online.

The CMU Reviews-Blog aggregates reviews that appear in the CMU Daily, and more, providing the CMU team's opinions on numerous upcoming releases.

back to the questions

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

Why should I subscribe to the CMU Daily?

The CMU Daily is aimed at anyone working in music – and we define that very widely.

You may work for a record company, or a music publisher, or a concert promoter, or a download platform, or a music retailer, or a radio station, or a music magazine, or a management or booking or PR agency, or a music legal firm. If so, the CMU Daily is for you. You may be an artist, a musician, a songwriter, a producer, a studio engineer, a DJ, a designer, a stylist, a journalist or a head of music. If so, the CMU Daily is for you too. You may work for a brand that sponsors music, or a company that works on the peripheries of the music business. You might run a fanzine or write a music blog, or stage occasional club nights, or run a record label out of your kitchen. Or you might just be someone who is hugely passionate about their music. Either way, you guessed it, the CMU Daily is for you.

To put it another way. The music business is undergoing a revolution as we speak. This makes it a very exciting industry, but also a very chaotic and unpredictable place to be. If you want to work in that industry, in a creative or corporate capacity, you need to know what's happening across the wider music world. The CMU Daily is the simple way to have that knowledge. Plus we'll let you know what Amy, Pete, Britney, Rihanna, Calvin and Tinchy have been up to as well. Which is always fun.

There's more details about the CMU Daily and how to subscribe here.

back to the questions

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

What content from the Daily also appears on the CMU News-Blog?

All stories from the CMU Daily are posted on the CMU News-Blog shortly after each day's bulletin is published, including the CMU Approved recommendations. Coverage of music business conferences will often go live on the blog ahead of its publication in the Daily. Readers who prefer to navigate our content online, or who want to sign up to an RSS feed, whether that be for the whole CMU Daily or a specific section of our coverage, can do so via the News-Blog.

back to the questions

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

Who makes CMU?

CMU is owned, published and loved by UnLimited Media, a Shoreditch based content, communication and consulting company. It is published by Chris Cooke and Caro Moses, who also own and run UnLimited Media.

CMU is edited by Andy Malt, while business content in the CMU Daily is edited by Chris Cooke. The CMU Approved slot is edited by Owen Smith and the Club Tip written by Paul Vig. The review team is coordinated by Georgine Stone, who also manages the competitions in the weekly bulletins.

back to the questions

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

How do you make money?

Aha, a good question, well done.

All of CMU's email and online media carry advertising, which covers some of the costs. There are details of how you can advertise here.

UnLimited Media also funds CMU – in return gaining unrivalled knowledge of and contacts in the UK music business, and a load of top music content expertise. This knowledge, contact network and expertise is made available to other media and brands through UnLimited's consulting service and our creative services agency.

back to the questions

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

Why is it free?

Did we mention that we're lovely? All of CMU's media are free because, well, that's the point. Other trade media provide information on the music and media businesses for a fee – but 80% of the people making music simply can't afford to pay it. Think of us as the great equalizer. We're here to ensure everyone involved in music is on the inside, and not just those with a subscriptions budget.

back to the questions

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

Can we use your content?

CMU's music news content is syndicated by a number of other websites. We offer both free and paid-for syndication services. For details of these services click here.

CMU publishers UnLimited Media also offer a wide range of other content services, from entertainment news feeds to the development, production and delivery of branded content. For more details click here.

Music videos featured in the CMU-Tube are provided by MUZU TV who in turn have licensing deals with the relevant record companies or music publishers. You too can host that content if you set up your own MUZU channel and select it from the MUZU video catalogue. For details on how to do that, click here.

back to the questions

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

Where do you get your news from?

Everyone asks this question. We monitor over 75 music, business, entertainment and general news sources from around the world every single weekday to pick up the big music stories. We also receive over 200 press releases each day, plus we get fed stories from our readers across the music and media industries.

All stories are analysed in context of their genuine newsworthiness, and how widely they have been reported on, and are added to by our own in-house experts on the music business and music law. Yes, even that one about Amy Winehouse having a new hair cut.

We always endeavour to verify the accuracy of stories we run – and will always say so if we are dubious of a story even though it has been widely reported on.

Genre wise, we do our best to give coverage to all music genres, and as for what artists we regularly cover, well, obviously, we do sometimes prioritise stories involving those so called 'CMU favourite' artists.

back to the questions

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

How do I get you to write about my band?

Simple – email news stories and press releases to musicnews@unlimitedmedia.co.uk. Obviously we get hundreds more press releases each week than we have space to report on, but we do check the musicnews inbox daily and pick out the best.

Your press release has more chance of making it as a story if all the text is in the body of the email (ie not as an attachment) and if the release includes a quote from the artist/company it is about. Whatever you do, don't send PDFs.

If you are an unsigned band or independent label, don't worry about crafting up a full press release. When anything vaguely newsworthy happens email the basic details, if possible a quote, and any relevant factual information (eg release date, tour dates) – we are just as likely to report on a short email than a full blown press release.

As a general tip – avoid including large graphics in the email or including large image/audio file attachments – large emails that take an age to download generally piss off journalists (not us, we're too nice, but most other journalists).

back to the questions

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

How do I get you to review my music?

The best thing to do is to mail a review CD and press release to CMU, UnLimited Media, Floor 3 Unicorn House, 221-222 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6PJ. The more time between us receiving a CD and its release the more likely it is to be reviewed - preferably you should allow at least four weeks. All eligible CDs are entered into our reviews database which is distributed to our nationwide review team each Tuesday. They pick what they want to review and we send the CDs to them. Five reviews per week are featured in CMU Daily, while those and others appear on the CMU Reviews-Blog. Details of reviews recently added to the blog are given in the CMU Weekly each Friday.

back to the questions

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

How do I get my band featured in the CMU Approved slot?

Easy, email owen@unlimitedmedia.co.uk with any info. We approve artists, songs, features and promotions. And sometimes whole labels. If you have a new artist, release or project that you think might excite the CMU Team, let Owen know.

back to the questions

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

How do I get my band featured in the SSQ slot?

CMU's now legendary Same Six Questions interviews feature in the CMU Daily most days, plus we post six new SSQ interviews on theCMUwebsite.com every Friday, all plugged in the CMU Weekly e-bulletin.

To put your band forward for the SSQ slot email andy@unlimitedmedia.co.uk with the words 'SSQ proposal' in the subject line. If we are interested we'll get back to you within 10 days.

back to the questions

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

I subscribed to the CMU Daily but am no longer getting it – how come?

99 times out of 100 if you are not receiving the CMU Daily (or any of our e-bulletins) it is because something on your company's server is blocking it. This may be because there is some kind of block on emails coming from bulk mailing servers (we use the Constant Contact server) or some kind of 'profanity' filter which is blocking the Daily because we've quoted a musician saying "fuck" (which they're prone to do). You should take this up with your company's IT department.

If you are using a home email account, it could be a junk mail filter that is stopping the Daily getting through. If so, you will probably find the Daily in your junk mail / spam folder. Either way, you should add 'ebulletins@unlimitedmedia.co.uk' to your 'safe list'. If you need help doing this, or if that doesn't work, then you should contact your internet service provider.

If you are using a webmail service it is also likely to be a junk mail filter problem, and putting ebulletins@unlimitedmedia.co.uk on your 'safe list' may also help. Some webmail services block all emails coming from bulk mailing servers before they even reach your inbox or spam folder. Constant Contact generally have a good reputation for not allowing their server to be used for spam sending, and as a result emails sent via their servers, like the CMU bulletins, don't normally get blocked. That's why we use them. But if you never get our bulletins, it might be worth contacting your webmail service provider and asking them if there is any filter blocking emails from CMU, unlimitedmedia.co.uk or Constant Contact.

If after all this, you are still having problems, by all means email support@unlimitedmedia.co.uk and we will double check you are on our mailing list, and look if there are any problems we can see at our end.

back to the questions

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

The CMU Daily doesn't look right on my Blackberry, can I get a text version?

Some mobile devices show the CMU Daily in a 'confused' way, or as simple HTML code. Newer devices generally show the Daily as God intended. However, if this is a problem, or you would simply prefer to receive the CMU Daily as just text, you can sign up for the 'text edition'.

To do this, click on the 'update profile' link at the bottom of any edition of the CMU Daily. You will be asked to confirm your email address. You will then be sent an email, which will provide a link to your 'personal profile' on the UnLimited e-bulletin server. Here you can change your email address, pick which UnLimited e-bulletins you receive, and opt to receive e-bulletins as 'text' rather than 'html'.

Do note though, that only the CMU Daily has a text edition. If you are a 'text only' subscriber and have signed up to other UnLimited e-bulletins, when those bulletins publish you will receive an email alert pointing you to the online edition of those bulletins, rather than receiving a text-only version of the bulletin itself.

Unfortunately Constant Contact doesn't currently allow us to send some emails as HTML and others as text to the same email address. If you want to receive some bulletins in HTML and some in text you will need to sign up from two different email addresses.

back to the questions

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

How do I unsubscribe from a CMU bulletin?

Simple. At the bottom of every CMU bulletin you will see two hyperlinks that say 'SafeUnsubscribe'. Simply click on one of these links. You will be taken to a web page where you can unsubscribe.

If you want to unsubscribe from ALL UnLimited e-bulletins, just click 'save changes' on this form.

If you want to unsubscribe from SOME UnLimited e-bulletins, but continue to receive others, then select 'No' on this form, and then put ticks next to those you wish to receive, and untick those you do not wish to receive, before pressing 'save changes'.

back to the questions

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

How do I change the email address I receive CMU bulletins to?

Click on the 'update profile' link at the bottom of any edition of any CMU bulletin. You will be asked to confirm your email address. You will then be sent an email, which will provide a link to your 'personal profile' on the UnLimited e-bulletin server. Here you can change your email address, pick which UnLimited e-bulletins you receive, and opt to receive e-bulletins as 'text' rather than 'html'.

back to the questions

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

How can I get a job at CMU?

We're a small team but do occasionally recruit new staff members. If you email your CV to recruitment@unlimitedmedia.co.uk we'll keep your info on file. New jobs will generally be advertised in the CMU Daily.

back to the questions

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

How can I review for CMU?

We recruit reviewers primarily from UK student media. We look for reviewers who are passionate about new music and looking to expand their journalistic skills. Being a CMU reviewer is a voluntary role, though you'll have the chance to hone your reviewing skills, to widen your knowledge of and contacts in the music business, to get your worked published, and to expand your CD collection. To be considered, send three reviews you have recently written plus details of any relevant music or media experience to andy@unlimitedmedia.co.uk.

back to the questions

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

How can I get an internship at CMU?

We have occasional internship places at CMU. These are unpaid posts, but give anyone considering a career in music or the media a brilliant opportunity to learn about and experience the wider industry, and pick up a wide range of skills. To be considered for an intern position email a CV to recruitment@unlimitedmedia.co.uk

back to the questions

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

Why do you never answer my emails or return my calls?

It's normally PR people who ask this question. CMU is a small but very very busy operation, with a daily deadline to meet. We simply don't have the time to respond to every email or phone call that is chasing a review or following up a press release – if we did respond to every email and every phone call we'd publish a lot less news stories and reviews. So – we're sorry. But we do check every press release sent to the musicnews email, and open every CD pack sent to CMU HQ.

back to the questions

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

Who created CMU?

CMU was created in 1998 by Chris Cooke, Alastair Walker and Fraser Thomson with the aim of creating something which brought together everyone working in music and the music media, utilising the college network to reach the grass roots. This was done initially through a print magazine and, since 2002, through the CMU Daily.

Chris continues to head up CMU to this day as Publisher and Business Editor, while Fraser remains a good friend of CMU since returning to his first love of radio.

Unfortunately Alastair is no longer with us. He died, quite suddenly, in August 2001 after suffering a heart attack brought on by diabetes – he was only 29. CMU's eclectic, wide-reaching and sometimes bizarre music policy was created by Alastair, and we feel that while we continue to adopt that attitude to music – always looking for something a little bit different – his passion for music lives on.

back to the questions