| CMU Daily - on the inside Tuesday 21st December |
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In today's CMU Daily:
- Jacko trial to go ahead
- Mercury Rev to release online EPs
- Mars Volta annoyed by internet leaks
- Vital:Pias do iTunes deal in Europe
- Universal put school based street teams on hold
- MP3 players not just for kids
- Live Review: Delays At Cargo
- DJ Fergie: I've been battling the drink
- Doherty interview on Newsnight tonight
- Robbie: I gave up drugs because they made me fat
- Wippit enter Band Aid price war
- Napster sells Roxio business
- Napster go Oasis crazy
- Kylie tops the calendar charts
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CMU TRACK OF THE YEAR
Well, Christmas is nearly here, so you have just three more days to cast your votes in the CMU Track of the Year poll survey thing. Just email your vote to vote@cmumusicnetwork.co.uk. If you want to offer a 50 word explanation of your vote then that would be cool - we'll include a couple of votes in here each day this week for inspiration. Today, some votes from the good old CMU team.
Voter: Paul Vig, CMU Daily
Vote: Louis Vega featuring Blaze - Brand New Day
Words: OK, so this tune had been promo'ed previously, but it hadn't had a full UK release. 'Brand New Day' is the kind of soulful house that only New Jersey house boys Blaze (helping on this occasion by Latin genius Vega) can produce. Written about the birth of Louis's son Nico, whose cries appear on the track, this is a house track that actually plucks at your heart strings. It uses a classic house template, but teams with Latin soul. And the album's pretty darn good and a contender for the 2004 top spot too.
Voter: Marc Samuels, CMU Daily
Vote: Client - Radio
Words: 'Radio' was released as a single at exactly the same time a certain Robbie Williams released a track with the very same name. His song went to number one, whilst Client's sold bugger all. But theirs was an abject lesson to Robbie in how to write an effortlessly stylish, sophisticated piece of synthpop that pushed all the right electronic buttons. Like its equally ignored parent album, it was a pristine example of elegantly modern pop music, that went to number one in a parallel universe where the record-buying public actually have taste. (Williams' effort, meanwhile, with its trademark try-too-hard lyrics, grating vocal mannerisms and general unsubtlety, made you want to shoot both the maker and the sycophantic record company yes-men who indulge him, before turning the gun on yourself to escape it).
Agree? If not, get voting, vote@cmumusicnetwork.co.uk
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JACKO TRIAL TO GO AHEAD
The long awaited Michael Jackson court case will go ahead on 31 Jan as planned after Jacko's lawyers were unsuccessful in their bid to have the case thrown out of court or, at least, postponed three months.
Judge Rodney Melville rejected Jacko's lawyers somewhat ambitious claim that the repeated search of the singer's Neverland ranch proved their client was a victim of "vindictive prosecution" and that therefore the whole case should be scrapped. He also refused their request for another three months to work their way through the thousands of pages of evidence being presented by the prosecution, adding: "If I continue the case for three months, we'll have 90 more search warrants and 90 more motions."
All of which means what is sure to be a media circus of a trial will kick off in the New Year. Melville admitted that the high profile nature of this case would be "problematic" but said notices would be sent out to potential jurors next week.
Elsewhere in Jacko news, the singer's ex-wife and the mother of two of his children, Deborah Rowe, has begun proceedings to get visiting rights to Paris, aged six, and Prince Michael I, aged 8. Her parental rights were terminated in 2001 but partially restored in 2003. The latest claim for access will go to court on 2 Feb, just two days after that child abuse case begins. Rowe may be making these new access moves so that, should Jacko be found guilty in the pending court case, she can win the custody of her two children.
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MERCURY REV TO RELEASE ONLINE EPS
The next album from the very fine Mercury Rev will be initially released as a series of download only EPs. The album, 'The Secret Migration', will be properly released in May, however there will be four online EP releases, each featuring tracks from the album, on 25 Jan, 8 Mar and 12 Apr. We hear the new album is rather good.
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MARS VOLTA ANNOYED BY INTERNET LEAKS
Talking of albums appearing on the internet, though this time unofficially, the Mars Volta are appealing to fans to ignore pre-release copies of their forthcoming album which have appeared in the internet and, if they are in a position to do so, to remove them.
On the online leaking of new album 'Frances The Mute', the band and their label have issued the following statement: "The collective GSL staff and certain members of the band think what you are doing is fucked. You should honor the band's wishes and take the songs down. Leaks suck, and are an unfortunate evil of the Internet. It sucks even more when it's such a bad copy as what is being passed around right now. As much as the hype that's swept over the internet for this release is amazing, no one wished anyone to hear such an amazing album in such piss-poor quality this side of the 70s."
So that's you told.
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VITAL:PIAS DO ITUNES DEAL IN EUROPE
Given the tendency of those lovable iTunes people to not return phone calls to any record label that could be in any way accused of being independent, this should provide some festive cheer.
Independent distributors Vital:Pias have done a deal with iTunes in Europe on par with its deal with the Apple music platform in the US, meaning any label for whom they distribute physical product will now be able to flog their wares via the flagship download platform. Some of the bigger independents already sell tracks via Apple of course, but the Vital:Pias deal will be good news for the smaller indies who have been struggling to get their product onto iTunes.
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UNIVERSAL PUT SCHOOL BASED STREET TEAMS ON HOLD
Universal Records have reportedly put their schools version of the street team concept on hold after criticism in the Guardian, and by the National Union of Teachers.
As reported in yesterday's Daily, the Guardian have criticised the marketing programme used by Universal to promote Busted, McFly and V in which school kids are encouraged to big up those acts at school in return for free stuff. The scheme, which has been cleverly concealed by the record label over the last two years by, erm, promoting it heavily on each of the band's official websites, is, according to the Guardian, a "controversial record company initiative" which the NUT says is "unacceptable".
Despite initially defending the scheme, Universal have confirmed the 'school chairman' programme has been put on hold (though presumably things go kinda quiet during the school holidays anyway) and will be reviewed by label bosses in the New Year. The label say the fact the schools scheme website was down yesterday was coincidental.
Not wishing to editorialise or anything, but as we said yesterday, surely formalising the role of dedicated fans in promoting bands to their peers is much less worrying that the number of food, drink and fashion brands formally sponsoring schools these days. As Pink Floyd once said, "Hey teacher, leave those Busted fans alone".
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MP3 PLAYERS NOT JUST FOR KIDS
Turns out it's not just trendy CMU readers who are buying MP3 players this Christmas. Come to think of it, CMU readers are so cool you probably all bought your MP3 players three years ago. Apart from the really cool CMU readers, who won't listen to music unless it comes on a 12" piece of vinyl. Anyway, a new consumer poll says that 90% of MP3 player owners are actually over 35 (actually, that's probably the age of half of CMU's readers!).
While that statistic seems a little unrealistic, it certainly suggests that not only are thirty and forty somethings now the biggest buyers of CDs, they are also proactive early adopters in the digital music space.
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LIVE REVIEW: Delays at Cargo on 16 Dec
As die hard CMU fans will know (by die hard CMU fans I mean, of course, my mother), as a general rule I don't "do" gigs. I'm not sure what it is about gigs that I find so unappealing. Perhaps it's the fear that a band you love on record just won't cut it live. Perhaps it's the fact your entire evening's enjoyment depends on that much undervalued and increasingly rare breed - the decent sound guy. Perhaps it's the fact bands never seem to finale with my favourite track. Perhaps it's all that standing up and the resulting sore feet. Perhaps it's because your night always seems to end with a long wait for a Northern Line train. Actually, it's probably because I am mildly claustrophobic and I find the thought of all those people crammed into one room only slightly less than terrifying. No, come to think of it, it's part of my general dislike for other people. Anyway, this is a round about way of saying that the fact I left the warmth of the Isle and trekked over to Shoreditch on a cold December evening is a testament to just how much I love Delays. The fact it was Eddy TM's Remix Night may have been the clincher of course, but it was love of Delays which persuaded me to follow my mate Ivan into the heart of the crowd and risk being squashed, pushed and, most dangerously of all given how many viruses are doing the rounds just now, breathed on. Ever since I heard the electronic sounds at the start of 'Long Time Coming' (expertly recreated live tonight, albeit on take two) I've been hooked by this Southampton four piece. And while there have been albums I have enjoyed with equal passion this year, with Delays' debut 'Faded Seaside Glamour' I hadn't been as excited about the arrival of an album since Lemon Jelly's 'Lost Horizons'. Despite the anticipation, Delays delivered the goods on record. And despite my anticipation of tonight's gig (the first time I'd see the band live), once again they delivered bigtime. Keeping talk to the minimum - except to tell us several times what a great year 2004 has been - they expertly performed their set, finding time to play most people's favourites from that debut album, a couple of rather fine sounding new tracks and recent single 'Lost In Melody'. They didn't finale with my favourite of course (they bravely finished with one of those new songs). My feet were very sore the next day. And I ended the night waiting 20 minutes for a Northern Line train. But on this occasion it was worth it. May 2005 bring Delays the world domination they deserve. CC
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DJ FERGIE: I'VE BEEN BATTLING THE DRINK
Addictions news now, and Radio 1 DJ Fergie has revealed he has been battling with a drink problem for most of 2004 and that he " was bordering on being an alcoholic". In an interview with that legendary music journalist, Turnmills' publicist Paul Strickings (no really), he admitted: "This year has been the worst, but I guess for the past six years I've just been pissed - I know I can't keep doing it anymore. I just decided that I was totally fucking myself, to the point where I wasn't recording anything in the studio or turning up to gigs with a record bag and playing blind. This year has been about getting sober to be perfectly honest with you. A lot of it has been a bit of a blur and I've realised just how much I was drinking. I'm surprised that I've still been working as much as I have."
Fergie was talking to the Turnmills PR because he will be slamming out the tunes (and downing a fair few pints of orange juice) at the New Years Eve Party being thrown by the club's Gallery franchise which, somewhat confusingly, is taking place at the Brixton Academy. Fergie is headlining alongside Tall Paul, The Ting, Eddi Halliwell, Nick Sentience and Andy Farley.
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DOHERTY INTERVIEW ON NEWSNIGHT TONIGHT
Staying with the addictions desk, and more news on CMU's very favourite addict. Yep, you guessed it, Pete Doherty. For an artist so much in the news this year Doherty has given surprisingly few interviews, especially in the broadcast media (presumably on the instructions of his sensibly cautious management). Tonight Newsnight will screen an interview with Doherty - aiming to see why one of UK's most famous drug addict is also, according to the NME at least, the coolest man in Britain.
Writing about the interview, Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark asks: "Was he clean when we recorded it? During that two hours, who knows, but he was pretty lucid. He didn't display the self-obsession that is a hallmark of addicts, and certainly the hallmark of his past behaviour. He was courteous and solicitous."
The interview airs on Newsnight tonight, and should be available on demand on the Newsnight website tomorrow.
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ROBBIE: I GAVE UP DRUGS BECAUSE THEY MADE ME FAT
Last bit of addiction news now, and Robbie Williams has pissed off anti-drugs campaigners by saying the only reason he gave up drugs and alcohol was because they made him fat. Speaking to Real Radio FM, in an interview due to be aired on Christmas Day, Robbie says: "I'd still be doing it if I could make good judgment calls, and I'd still be doing it if I didn't blow up to the size of an aircraft hangar, you know, because it was a great time. Some of the best times in my life happened under the influence of drugs. ... I'm not saying 'go out and do drugs, kids,' but I enjoyed them." Asked whether he was confident about staying off drugs for good he added: "No, I'm not confident at all."
With one drug addict already named the coolest man in Britian, Robbie's seemingly flippant attitude to drug addiction hasn't pleased charities who work to help addicts. Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, told reporters yesterday: "Scare tactics about drugs rarely work but Robbie Williams seems to have gone to the other extreme in underplaying the risks and dangers. Robbie Williams's experience of drink and drugs – a multi-millionaire singer with a small army of minders and managers - will be a world apart from the lives of millions of young people. Drugs are not safe, and the risks can be much greater than simply putting on a bit of weight."
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WIPPIT ENTER BAND AID PRICE WAR
Good news for stingy people with a conscience. Download platform Wippit have beaten even iTunes in the Band Aid price war.
As previously reported, Apple were unwilling to sell the new Band Aid track at anything other than their standard 79p a track price tag. With the Band Aid people not willing to budge on their price of £1.49 a download (they kept wittering on about helping starving people in Africa or something), Apple agreed to pay the charity the difference (ie 70p a download) so they could sell the track at their standard price.
Now Wippit have gone even further and are selling the 'Do They Know It's Christmas' download for 49p, donating a pound to the charity for every Band Aid download bought via their platform. Presumably Wippit hope the traffic the offer might generate to their download service (and the press coverage it might win) will justify the cost of subsidizing the track.
Now here's a plan. How about a download platform where I don't actually download the Band Aid track, I don't pay anything, but they donate a full £1.49 to the charity? Perfect for stingy people with both a conscience and good taste in music.
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NAPSTER SELLS ROXIO BUSINESS
Napster's owners Roxio have sold off their original business to an organisation called Sonic Solution, and will now operate as a stand alone download company. Before buying the Napster brand at the legendary P2P company's bankruptcy sale, Roxio were a software firm best know for their CD and DVD burning software. That part of their business - and the 200 employees who work on it - is now part of Sonic Solutions. Roxio will now exist simply as Napster, both in name and operations. It is an interesting move because some question the commercial viability of having a company that only operates in the download space. Two of its biggest competitors – Apple and Sony - benefit from a business model where they can make money from the sale of MP3 players even if their download platforms don't generate much profit.
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NAPSTER GO OASIS CRAZY
Talking of Napster, the UK version of the platform has gone all Oasis crazy this week. With Oasis making all of their albums available via digital download in the next few months, Napster have got themselves an exclusive download only EP for their customers called '10 Years of Noise and Confusion' which features 'Columbia (White Label Demo)', 'Rock and Roll Star Live', 'Acquiesce' and 'Fuckin' In the Bushes'. The download platform is also selling another exclusive - 'Sad Song Live' - previously only available as a vinyl b-side, and is offering full Napster subscribers access to an Oasis radio stream playing the band's whole back catalogue on a loop.
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KYLIE TOPS THE CALENDAR CHARTS
So, who cares about the Christmas singles chart any more, it's the calendar charts we are all interested in surely. Well, good news for EMI (not that they'll see any money from calendar sales presumably!). While neither Kylie or Robbie managed to get Christmas number one this year (not even Christmas number two), they currently top the UK calendar charts. Kylie's calendar is just ahead of Robbie's. Next up are those Hollyoaks Babes, followed by Busted, Phil Kay (of all people!), David Beckham, Jennifer Ellison, Orlando Bloom, Abi Titmuss and Kelly Brook.
Commenting on the chart, Virgin Megastores' told reporters: "Kylie's popularity continues to grow year by year, as does Robbie's. But with Kay beating Bloom and the Simpsons outselling Jordan, sales figures are a little weird this year".
