CMU
Daily - on the inside Friday
4th March
In
today's CMU Daily:
- Thievary Corporation singer commits suicide
- TuneTribe aim to help indies get online
- Finding Neverland - Jacko trial update
- Lil Kim trial update
- MTV Aussie awards debut
- Brian Wilson to play Glasto
- The Tears album and tour news
- Meatloaf dates
- Status Quo gig
- Will Young dates
- Ray Charles engineer suspected of stealing master tapes
- Church ministers call on music fans to boycott Nelly gig
- Fischerspooner get Ibiza residency
- Evans in line for new national radio show
- Dualdiscs to launch in UK
- SonyBMG sign up to SnoCap
- Kelly apologies for calling Imbruglia a "C"
- J Lo not pregnant shocker
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CMU
FRIDAY TIPS
VIGSY'S
CLUB TIP: Louie Vega & The Elements Of Life
The ticket price might be hefty, but this is going to be a good
one - and they've just added a third date so demand must be
high. Masters At Work genius Louie Vega is playing live for
two nights to promote the re-release of the fabulous 'Elements
Of Life' album. He will be supported by Latin vocalist Anane
(who is, I'm told, Mrs Vega) plus seasoned singer / songwriter
/ guitarist Raul Midon and Blaze, Dimitri From Paris, Ursula
Rucker and salsa sensation Domingo Quinones. Oh yes, and Gilles
Peterson and Kenny Dope will be on the decks (though on alternate
nights I think). Need I say more? No. Like I say, it's going
to be a good one.
Tue
8, Wed 9 & Thu 10 Mar, Jazz Cafe, Parkway, Camden, NW1,
7pm, £20 (£17.50 advance), more at http://www.jazzcafe.co.uk,
press info from Darling.
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THIEVARY
CORPORATION SINGER COMMITS SUICIDE
According to Aussie website Undercover Pam Bricker, a longtime
collaborator and vocalist with the Thievery Corporation, has
committed suicide. While not going into the specifics of her
death, a statement on the production duo's website confirms
Bricker, whose vocals appeared on the two Thievery Corporation
albums, 1997's 'Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi' and 2002's 'Richest
Man In Babylon', did, in deed, pass away earlier this week.
The
statement reads: "On Sunday, February 20th we lost our
long time friend and collaborator Pam Bricker. Pam has been
a Thievery Corporation mainstay, (both on tour and in the studio)
contributing vocals on the first three Thievery Corporation
albums, most notably on the epic Thievery track 'Lebanese Blonde'.
Her class, easy-going nature, professionalism, and her distinct,
beautiful voice will be eternally missed. Music fans from DC
to Istanbul and everywhere in between mourn her loss, and we
mourn with you. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in
Pam's name to Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org),
an organisation that she supported".
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TUNETRIBE
AIM TO HELP INDIES GET ONLINE
With the BPI still stressing its concerns that independent players
do not currently have sufficient access to the download market,
the new independent player in the download space, TuneTribe,
has told CMU that any labels looking for an easy way into the
digital domain should take advantage of their free 'bureau service'.
As
previously reported, TuneTribe is a new download service founded
by Groove Armada's Tom Findlay and internet entrepreneur John
Strickland specifically aiming to represent that indie repertoire
online. Currently in pilot stage, the platform will officially
launch in Apr, just as the singles chart starts incorporating
digital sales stats. TuneTribe is making that platform available
to unsigned artists and acts looking to sell their music online.
The aim is to make selling tracks through the platform as easy
as possible for those acts - TuneTribe will handle all the encoding
and etailing tasks - paying an 80% share of royalties on anything
sold.
TuneTribe's
Ronnie Traynor told CMU: "Labels can send us all their
music, images and information which we will then digitise and
tag with metadata and upload ready for selling online. We will
also be promoting the tracks on the site along the same lines
as the offline market, with marketing, PR and plugging services
as well as offline events including our own Festival on Saturday
13th August."
The
service is open to both artists and labels. Among the latter,
Beggars, Sanctuary, Wall of Sound, V2, One Little Indian, Rough
Trade and Sunday Best are already signed up. Ronnie continued:
"The more labels that sign up the more likely it is that
we can really make a difference to the way that the indies are
represented in the combined chart and in the digital marketplace".
Labels interested in utilising TuneTribe's services in this
way should contact Ronnie - ronnie.traynor@tunetribe.com.
Meanwhile
TuneTribe have confirmed former Jockey Slut editor Rob Wood
will be coordinating the editorial components of their website,
including news, reviews, charts and interviews.
And
in related news, that other independent download site Karmadownload
has just launched a US version - more on that on Monday.
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FINDING
NEVERLAND - JACKO TRIAL UPDATE
A video of Neverland and the testimony of the accuser's sister
took centre stage at the cabaret that is the Michael Jackson
trial yesterday. I'm keeping note of all this because I'm convinced
there's a stage musical in the making here - "a poptastic
musical court room drama filled with sex, drinks and dirty porn
- or none of the above, as the case may be" (the final
slogan is still in the hands of the jury of course).
Anyway,
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department photographer Albert
Lafferty yesterday talked the court through footage he had videoed
during a police raid on Jacko's Neverland ranch - a "private
world of alcohol and pornography" if the prosecution are
to be believed. Pictures of what the Daily Star are calling
the 'lair of pervy Jacko' (surely it being a lair and he being
pervy is, again, yet to be ascertained), showed a wood-panelled
entrance hall, Jackson's split-level master bedroom,and two
rooms that investigators called the "doll room" and
the "toy room". These two rooms contained dolls and
figurines depicting characters such as Batman and Superman,
the Star Wars robots and SpongeBob Squarepants. All interesting
stuff for voyeurs everywhere though, notably, no decent porn
anywhere to be seen.
As
for the testimony of Gavin Arvizo's sister, this centred mainly
on the allegations Jacko fed her two brothers alcohol, and the
charges that Jackson's people held the Arvizo family against
their will. She said that once while at the Neverland ranch
she followed her brothers into a wine cellar hidden behind a
jukebox in a room full of toys. There she found her brothers
drinking wine with the singer. She added that her brother frequently
appeared hyper-active and aloof after being with Mr Jackson.
She said: "He didn't want to talk to me, he didn't want
to be near me, he was distant. It felt weird." She also
described what happened to her family after Martin Bashir's
controversial documentary about Jackson was first aired. She
says they were whisked away to Miami and were coerced into making
that video where they rebutted any claims that Jacko had behaved
inappropriately with Gavin.
Anyway,
the case continues. I'm off to write my first showstopper -
"don't blame it on the coke-canned win, don't blame it
on the filthy porn, blame it on the boogie". Has anyone
got Cameron Mackintosh's number?
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LIL
KIM TRIAL UPDATE
Meanwhile, over in the New York branch of the pop courts, Lil
Kim is facing nine years more jail time than Jacko over allegations
she lied in a grand jury investigation into a shooting that
took place as she left a radio station back in 2001. Prosecutors
claim Kim lied when she said she did not know who was involved
in the shooting or what their motive might have been.
The
perjury claims follow admissions by Suif Jackson and Damion
Butler that they opened fire when two rival hip hop groups clashed
that day - though they insist they did so in self defence. This
is tricky for Kim because the former is an old friend and the
latter her former manager. Given that CCTV footage allegedly
shows that Kim was present at the time of the shooting it is
impossible, the prosecution argue, that she did not see who
was involved, as she claimed during the grand jury investigation
into the crime.
Suif
Jackson was yesterday in court having been forced to appear
as a witness under a government subpoena. He admitted that he
had known Lil Kim for ten years and that he was with her on
the day of the shooting. Lil Kim maintains her innocence of
the charges - presumably she will claim that, given the speed
and drama of the event, she wasn't in a position to see who
was actually involved in the shooting - certainly that reported
CCTV footage seems to show her leaving the scene very quickly
as trouble began.
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MTV
AUSSIE AWARDS DEBUT
It was the first MTV Australia Video Music Awards yesterday
and they were great. Delta Goodrem, Green Day and Black Eyed
Peas each won two awards apiece. Delta for Best Female Artist
and Pepsi Viewers Choice, Green Day for Best Rock Group and
Best Rock Video for 'American Idiot', and The Black Eyed Peas
for Best R&B Video and Sexiest Video - both for 'Hey Mama'.
Other winners included Gwen Stefani for Best Dress Video and
Usher for Best Dance Video. Sorted.
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BRIAN
WILSON TO PLAY GLASTO
Festival news, and Brian Wilson will play at this year's Glastonbury
Festival. The former Beach Boy has confirmed via his website
that he will play on the last day of the festival - Sunday 26
Jun. That set will be part of a UK tour which will also feature
gigs at the following:
22
Jun: London Hampton Court Palace
23 Jun: Bristol Colston Hall
24 Jun: Oxford New Theatre
26 Jun: Glastonbury Festival
27 Jun: Liverpool Summer Pops
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THE
TEARS ALBUM AND TOUR NEWS
Good news for, well, long term Suede fan and CMU's Head Of Indie
Jane Wright, if no one else. The Tears, the new band of Brett
Anderson and Bernard Butler, have confirmed details of their
debut album. To be called 'Here Comes The Tears', the NME reports
that the long player will hit stores on 2 May, with a single
release, 'Refuges', on 18 Apr
Those
releases will be promoted via the following gigs:
18
Apr: Cambridge Junction
20 Apr: Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
22 Apr: Portsmouth Pyramid Centre
23 Apr: Liverpool Carling Academy
24 Apr: Newcastle University
23 May: London Shepherds Bush Empire
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MEATLOAF
DATES
Now that we're into live news, we promised you some exciting
gig news featuring classic artists yesterday, and we never break
a promise here at CMU (well, apart from that one "I'll
call you straight back"). So here it is - Meatloaf will
be touring the UK later this year as part of the Summer Nights
Concert Series, which stages big gigs in rather nice stately
home settings. Fantastic. The Meatloaf dates as follows, press
info from chris@fifthelement.biz
3
Jul: Harewood House
8 May: Leeds Castle
10 May: Chatsworth
15 May: Blickling Hall
16 May: Warwick Castle
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STATUS
QUO GIG
And as if that wasn't exciting enough, Status Quo have also
announced a gig as part of the same series. They will play Norfolk's
Blicking Hall on 16 Jul. Press info, again, from chris@fifthelement.biz
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WILL
YOUNG DATES
We also promised you Will Young tour dates - what were we thinking?
Oh well, here they are. He too is playing as part of the Summer
Nights Concert Series, dates as follows:
8
Jul: Chatsworth, Derbyshire
10 Jul: Leeds Castle, Kent
15 Jul: Warwick Castle, Warwick
17 Jul: Blickling Hall, Norfolk
Use
you initiative on who's doing the press.
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RAY
CHARLES ENGINEER SUSPECTED OF STEALING MASTER TAPES
Terry Howard, a longtime engineer for Ray Charles, is in police
custody over allegations he stole master tapes off the late
singer.
According
to the LA Times, Howard, who was a co-winner on three of the
Grammys Charles won for his 'Genius Loves Company' album, was
arrested after over 300 master tapes belonging to Charles were
found in Howard's Burbank loft. Police suspect he stole them
from Charles while they were working together.
LAPD
Detective Donald Hrycyk told reporters: "Ray had the key,
and Howard would meet him, and they'd work on stuff, sometimes
just them, but Ray couldn't see this guy was walking out with
all this stuff. And that would be pretty sad if that was the
case." Hrycyk added that an associate of Howard had reported
the stash of tapes to the Ray Charles Enterprises company, who
had alerted the police.
Commenting
on the allegations, Howard's attorney stressed: "These
are recordings that he contractually and logically had every
right to have in his possession."
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CHURCH
MINISTERS CALL ON MUSIC FANS TO BOYCOTT NELLY GIG
More than twenty church ministers are calling on music fans
in the Arkansas city of Jonesboro to boycott a Nelly gig because
they do not want his "vile and filthy lyrics" in their
town. The church men hope that if enough people boycott the
gig at Arkansas State University it will be cancelled.
The
Reverend Adrian Rodgers of the Fullness of Joy Church told reporters
he was concerned about lyrics that included references to drugs,
sex and violence, and songs that he feels are demeaning to women.
He said: "Jonesboro is a wonderful city because of what
does not come here. Tear the tickets up. Do not go and do not
allow your children to go."
However
Tim Dean, the director of the University venue, told reporters
he had sold nearly 5500 tickets for the concert anyway, adding:
"It would appear that with ticket sales over 5000, many
others have expressed their right to find Nelly's music entertaining
and worth spending their time and money on".
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FISCHERSPOONER
GET IBIZA RESIDENCY
Fischerspooner are back - you knew that right? Well, with new
album 'Odyssey' out on EMI on 11 Apr, the duo have confirmed
that they will have a residency at Ibiza's Manumission club
every Monday from 4 Jul to 19 Sep. Shows promoting the new album
will feature the usual cabaret style performances and, for the
first time, will include live music.
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EVANS
IN LINE FOR NEW NATIONAL RADIO SHOW
Despite telling reporters before the Brits that he wasn't looking
a permanent radio or TV presenting job, Chris Evans is reportedly
in talks for a new permanent radio presenting job. Oh yes, and
for a new TV presenting job too.
The
radio project is particularly interested. According to the Guardian
all the major players in UK radio are considering launching
a high profile new entertainment show that they will all carry
on their local stations. The plan, which will need OfCom approval
because it will reduce the amount of local programming participating
stations produce, is part of the commercial sector's attempts
to take on the BBC who, through the mighty appeal of the likes
of Jonathan Ross and Terry Wogan, are in many ways all the commercial
company's biggest rival. Evans is the top presenter choice of
the people behind the project since his critically acclaimed
stint hosting the Radio Aid event earlier this year. The new
show would most likely run for three hours and go out on a weekend
afternoon.
On
the TV front Evans is reportedly in talks with Channel 4 about
new programming ideas.
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DUALDISCS
TO LAUNCH IN UK
Those previously reported combined CD / DVD discs will properly
launch in the UK next month with five releases coordinated by
Silverline, the company behind the DualDisc format. The discs
will have a normal album on the CD side, with multi-media and
surround sound content on the DVD side. All major labels are
getting behind the project re-releasing classic albums in the
format and putting some cash into the marketing pot. Silverline
hope there will be over 100 releases in the format by the end
of the year.
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SONYBMG
SIGN UP TO SNOCAP
Staying with technology type things, SonyBMG has signed up to
SnoCap, the new business of the original Napster creator Shawn
Fanning. SnoCap is aiming to give P2P networks some legitimacy
by adding a system which stops music fans from illegally sharing
copyrighted music over the net by recognising tracks that belong
to record labels. However P2P users will be able to access those
tracks via the P2P network they are familiar with in return
for a small fee which will be passed back to the content owner,
thus incorporating legitimate download sales into the P2P environment.
With Universal already on board SnoCap will now be keen to get
EMI and Warner signed up as soon as possible so that they can
say they have the major labels covered.
However,
some might argue getting the record labels to sign up was probably
always going to be the easiest bit. It remains to be seen if
any of the major P2P networks like Grokster or Kazaa adopt the
SnoCap system - reducing the attraction of their service to
music fans in return for some legitimacy.
Some
reckon how the P2P companies take to SnoCap will depend on how
successful the entertainments industry is in the upcoming Supreme
Court hearing on the MGM v Grokster case and in their attempts
to get Congress to clarify the liability P2P companies should
accept for the copyright violation they enable. If the courts
or politicians go in favour of the record labels and film studios
the P2Ps may be forced to adopt the SnoCap system to demonstrate
they are acting in good faith to stop the illegal use of their
technology.
Of
course even if the P2P networks sign up to SnoCap it remains
to be seen how music fans used to a free supply of all music
via Kazaa et al take to any new restrictions. Especially as
there is sure to be new P2P technology being made available
by unofficial sources that will offer the full Kazaa style service
should the big players go the SnoCap route.
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KELLY
APOLOGIES FOR CALLING IMBRUGLIA A "C"
Kelly Osbourne has apologised for calling Natalie Imbruglia
a cunt, but adds that that doesn't mean that she likes the Aussie
singer. Osbourne told the Sydney Morning Herald: "We have
seen each other since then [the time Kelly described Imbruglia
that way] and I have apologised for my rude comment. I don't
still have to generally think she's the best person in the world
but I will behave myself." We now expect Kelly to apologise
to all the CMU Daily subscribers who will miss today's edition
because their email system won't let emails containing the word
'cunt' through.
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J
LO NOT PREGNANT SHOCKER
Look, will you all just stop spreading these J Lo is pregnant
rumours (oh, was it just us?). Anyway, Lopez has told American's
Today show that she isn't expecting new husband Mar Anthony's
child, joking about the various media reports claiming she was
pregnant - "I think I've been pregnant about 17 times."
Meanwhile,
Lopez is reportedly producing a new TV show that aims to compete
with the OC. Apparently, it will follow a group of young professionals
in Miami. So now you know.
