CONTROVERSIAL NEW DEB AMENDMENT WRITTEN BY BPI
Those who oppose amendment 120a to the Digital Economy Bill, which was put forward by the Liberal Democrats, are making much today of the fact that the last minute provision seems to have been written by record label trade body the BPI.

This is the amendment that replaced the controversial Clause 17 of the Bill, and which has managed to prove even more controversial. Clause 17 gave future ministers the power to introduce new copyright rules on whim (well, sort of). Amendment 120a gives the High Court powers (or, rather, clarifies and maybe extends existing powers) to shut down copyright-infringing websites.

It was always assumed that the BPI supported the all-encompassing Clause 17 because they saw it as a way of getting an Amendment 120a type provision into law at some point in the near future. The record label trade body don't want new copyright rules to only deal with P2P file-sharing, given the growth of other kinds of online copyright infringement.

As previously reported, a consortium of ISPs and web companies (and Stephen Fry) put their name to a letter opposing the amendment earlier this week. They say the amendment is dangerous, and has been rushed in without proper debate.

It emerged yesterday that although the amendment was put forward in the House Of Lords by Lib Dem Tim Clement-Jones, that his wording is pretty much identical to a clause proposed by the BPI in a letter circulated to Lordy types earlier this year. This revelation provides ammunition for those who say the whole copyright section of the Digital Economy Bill panders far too much to the content lobby.

But the BPI said it wasn't embarrassed by the revelation it had basically written a clause of the Digital Economy Bill. To be fair, any legislation designed to placate competing lobbying groups may take certain expressions or phrases from the work of said lobbyists as political types look for compromise. And, in lobbying circles, getting a bit of your work directly pasted into a Bill is a gold star, have-an-extra-Hob-Nob-with-your-coffee achievement.

The Guardian quote the BPI thus: "This was a suggestion that we made to the government in 2009, with this wording. This version of the proposal was sent to the government and also to the opposition parties. The government decided it wanted to go a different way. The opposition parties, while not fully agreeing with it, saw it as a good framework for what they wanted to put down".

One of the BPI's rivals in the lobbying swamp on this one, the Open Rights Group's Jim Killock, admitted that most lobbyists would try to persuade politicians to take their wording, and that the record label trade body weren't to blame for having succeeded in this regard. However, he criticised the Lib Dems and Lords at large for being seemingly so ready to take the BPI's words on such a contentious topic.

He told The Guardian: "The BPI has got every right to do this. The question is why the politicians have said in such a complicated arena that they will take the BPI's ideas wholesale without consulting anybody else. It's the politicians who have been irresponsible here. It shows that they're taking the BPI far too seriously".

back to top

EMI LOSE PINK FLOYD LAWSUIT
A High Court judge reached a quick decision on the previously reported Pink Floyd/EMI legal squabble this week, ruling in the band's favour. Perhaps the judge heard this was "kick EMI week". Or "kick EMI year", perhaps.

As previously reported, the dispute between the band and the major centred on the sale of Pink Floyd albums on a track-by-track basis on digital services like iTunes. Although a number of artists have complained about the tendency of consumers in the digital age to pick and mix tracks rather than buy and listen to full albums, the very album-centric Pink Floyd went legal over the issue, claiming that their 1967 contract with the band forbid EMI from selling their music in this way.

The dispute focused on one particular clause which referred to EMI not selling any Pink Floyd records as single records without the band's permission. EMI's legal team somewhat optimistically argued that the use of the word "records" in that clause only referred to physical records - ie 12" bits of vinyl or CDs - and not digital albums or singles. The Floyd's lawyers argued that that was clearly not in the spirit of the original agreement, and that the clause referred to the sale of all of the band's recordings, not just those on physical products.

The judge hearing the case yesterday agreed with the band, ordered EMI to pay the Floyd's legal costs, and declined the major any right of appeal. So, job done.

That said, you can still buy Pink Floyd single tracks on iTunes this morning, and EMI yesterday insisted that this week's quick ruling won't change that. They say that this week's court hearing focused on two specific contractual clauses, a small element of a wider contractual dispute between the band and the label, which is ongoing.

The major's statement reads: "Today's judgment does not require EMI to cease making Pink Floyd's catalogue available as single track downloads, and EMI continues to sell Pink Floyd's music digitally and in other formats. This litigation has been running for well over a year and most of its points have already been settled. This week's court hearing was around the interpretation of two contractual points, both linked to the digital sale of Pink Floyd's music. But there are further arguments to be heard on this and the case will go on for some time".

The second contractual point of dispute related to digital royalties. That is actually potentially the more important of the disputes here. While many artists would prefer fans to buy their albums in full, few will have or would enforce legal rights to stop the sale of individual tracks. But anything in the Pink Floyd dispute that might increase the royalties the band are due on digital sales could have implications across the board, especially for any catalogue content subject to pre-internet contracts.

However, EMI insisted this week's court hearing be held in private - citing commercial confidentiality requirements - so we know little about the specifics of the royalties disagreement. Experts say that for a royalty dispute to be heard in private is very unusual.

back to top

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

DOHERTY BANNED FROM DRIVING AFTER MANAGER DROVE UNINSURED
Pete Doherty has been banned from driving for a year and fined £500 after admitting that he allowed his manager, Andrew Boyd, to drive his car without insurance.

Boyd was jailed for a year last month after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident, which left another man in a coma with "catastrophic" brain damage. Boyd's four year old son was also in the back of the car at the time. Both Doherty and Boyd said they thought that the musician's insurance covered his manager to drive the car.

You may remember that Doherty received an 18 month driving ban for drink driving in December, and Magistrates in Lowestoft yesterday said that the two sentences would run concurrently, so the new band is sort of irrelevant.

Oh, and before we forget, it's Pete's birthday today. Happy birthday Pete.

back to top

FORMER IDOL FINALIST WINS AUSSIE MUSIC PRIZE
Aussie singer-songwriter Lisa Mitchell, a former 'Australian Idol' finalist, has won the Australian Music Prize, which is basically the Australian equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize. She beat other shortlisted artists Sarah Blasko, Bertie Blackman, Oh Mercy, Black Cab, Kid Sam, Lucie Thorn and Urthboy to take the prize, which is judged by 27 music types.

back to top

BUSTED STILL NOT REFORMING
I'm sure we only just reported on the fact that Busted definitely aren't getting back together quite recently, but yesterday The Sun reported yet again that they were planning to do so, this time returning with a "rockier, edgier sound".

But Charlie Simpson's management yesterday issued a statement saying: "There is categorically NO CHANCE that Charlie will, would or otherwise be involved in any Busted reunion. End of story".

So that's that, then. However, James Bourne did recently say on Twitter that he'd like to get Son Of Dork back together. Exciting times.

back to top

LADY GAGA TELEPHONE VIDEO RELEASED
You've all watched this already, right? So, you don't need to tell me that Lady Gaga has released the nine and a half minute video for her new single 'Telephone', which features Beyonce and is out on Monday. And you probably already know that it features some kind of lesbian prison, cigarette sunglasses, more advertising than is probably necessary, a bit of swearing and some murdering.

You can watch it again here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ95z6ywcBY

back to top

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

NEW SUGABABES STREAMING ON WE7
The new Sugababes album, 'Sweet 7', is currently streaming on We7, ahead of its official release on Monday. Which is nice for all you people who still recognise this group's right to be called the Sugababes. Former member Mutya Buena's application to own the trademark in the name is still pending.

Listen here: www.we7.com/album/Sweet-7?albumId=452300&m=0

back to top

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

DAVID HOLMES ANNOUNCES BEST OF
David Holmes will release a compilation of some of his finest tracks next month, which will come packaged with an extra disc of remixes and that. Entitled 'The Dogs Are Parading', it will be released on 26 Apr via Universal.

Here's the tracklist:

CD 1:
The Girlfriend Experience
I Heard Wonders
My Mate Paul
Rodney Yates
Holy Pictures
Jackson Johnson
Hey Lisa
69 Police
Sugar Man
Living Room
(I Wish I Had A) Wooden Heart
Gritty Shaker
Don't Die Just Yet
Theme IMC
Gone
The Ballad Of Sarah And Jack

CD 2:
The Ballad Of Sarah And Jack (Geese Remix)
Don't Die Just Yet (Holiday Girl Arab Strap Remix)
I Heard Wonders (Weatherall Vocal Remix)
Living Room (Kevin Shields Remix)
My Mate Paul (Major Force Remix)
Little Short One
Head Rush On Lafayette (Fridge Mix)
Your On Fire (Too Fat)
The Lower Orders
Gone (Alter Ego Decoding Part 1)
Don't Die Just Yet (Mogwai Mix)
Smoked Oak
The Die Hard Rationalist
Return Of The Night Farmers (Instrumental)

back to top

R KELLY POSTPONES UK TOUR
R Kelly has postponed his upcoming European tour, which was due to begin later this month and arrive in the UK for three dates in April. Doctors recently discovered nodules on the singer's vocal chords and so have ordered him to rest and definitely not do anything silly like singing.

In a statement, Kelly mumbled quietly:"I owe it to my fans to give them the best shows possible and right now my voice isn't up to the job".

back to top

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

GORILLAZ ANNOUNCE TEENY TINY TOUR
Gorillaz have announced that they'll head out on a six date UK tour of smallish venues later this month to test out their new live band ahead of their appearance at the Coachella festival in April. The shows will not be the usual grand affairs Gorillaz are known for, but will literally just be the live band running through their set. Don't say you weren't told.

Tickets are available now to paid up members of the Gorillaz fanclub. More details here: gorillaz.com/g-club/G-Club-access-required

Tour dates:

21 Mar: Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
22 Mar: Bristol, Trinity
23 Mar: Cambridge, The Junction
25 Mar: Brighton, Old Market
26 Mar: Birmingham, Irish Centre
27 Mar: Lincoln, Shed

back to top

FESTIVAL LINE-UP UPDATE

BESTIVAL, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight, 9-12 Sep: The Prodigy have been announced as the Sunday headliner at his year's Bestival. Other acts added to the line-up include The Wailers, Wild Beasts, Howard Jones, Dub Pistols, I Blame Coco and Lissie. www.bestival.net

SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL, Herefordshire University and Leeds University, 29-30 May: Alkaline Trio, Against Me! and Rolo Tomassi head up the latest acts confirmed for Slam Dunk, as well as We Are The Ocean, Skindred, My Passion, Hit the Lights, The Wonder Years and The Audition. www.myspace.com/slamdunkclub

STRUMMERCAMP, Manchester Rugby Club, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, 28-30 May: The Blockheads, Spear Of Destiny, The Godfathers, Pama International and TV Smith are amongst the latest confirmed for to play Strummercamp. www.strummercamp.co.uk

BENICASSIM, Valencia, Spain, 15-20 Jul: Echo And The Bunnymen, Hot Chip and Mumford & Sons are the latest acts announced for this summer's Benicassim, along with Ellie Goulding, The Cribs, Foals, The Temper Trap and Two Door Cinema Club. www.benicassimfestival.co.uk

back to top

ALBUM REVIEW: Breakage - Foundation (Digital Soundboy)
Breakage, aka James Boyle, has a definite pedigree in drum n bass, having started out at seminal jungle/dnb label Reinforced. Move on nearly a decade and this producer has diversified into slightly different areas and delivers an interesting LP on Shy FX's label, Digital Soundboy.

He covers many styles on here. The reggae-infused slow groover 'Open Up' leads into some good old fashioned drum n bass with 'Old Skool Ting', which, as its title suggest, takes us back in the day with its samples and little inflections. Rising star Zarif appears to provide vocals on 'Over', adding shades of Mary J Blige and Elizabeth Troy to what is a little 2-step gem. 'Squid Bass' is a jokey interlude, while the Roots Manuva guesting 'Run Em Out' has a dancehall flavour and takes the tempo down.

'Vial', featuring Burial, is good dubstep par excellence: moody, beatsy and minimal, while 'Hard' with the Newham Generals has a grime feel. There has been a lot of fuss about that track - but it's not the highlight. Elsewhere, 'Higher' doesn't quite deliver and 'Speechless' goes off on a tangent with a proper guitar solo kicking in it at the end, but 'If' is a good cut to round us off, with its dubby little samples.

A good package, it covers a lot of styles in a more than competent fashion - this could be a very big album for Boyle. PV

Physical release: 15 Mar
Press contact: Darling Dept [all]

Buy from iTunes
Buy from Amazon

back to top

BPI LAUNCH SCANDINAVIAN TRADE MISSION
The BPI has added a new 'trade mission' to its portfolio of international fact-finding trips for record label types. As I'm pretty sure we've previously reported, the BPI already organises such trips for label types to Japan and LA so to explore business opportunities in those markets. The new trade mission will take in the Scandinavian market, and will involve the Music Export offices of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, even though I'm still not 100% convinced the latter really counts as Scandinavia.

Although open to all BPI members, the trade missions are really aimed at smaller independent labels looking to expand into featured territories for the first time. The Scandinavian shindig will take place in Oslo in June.

Music Week quote the BPI's Julian Wall saying these words: "Scandinavia has always been a good market for UK independent music and this is a great opportunity for those coming on the mission to develop contacts, partnerships and activity in this region. To keep costs down, we are condensing the programme into a packed two days, but are highly confident that a lot of ground will be covered and you will leave Scandinavia with both a stack of business cards and first-hand knowledge of doing business there".

If you're interested in being part of this trade mission email julian.wall@bpi.co.uk for more info.

back to top

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

LIVE NATION EXPAND GERMAN OPERATIONS
Live Nation earlier this week announced the launch of a revamped German operation.

The live music giant will have its own concert division in the territory for the first time, having previously been a shareholder in Marek Lieberberg Konzertagentur, the tour promotion company controlled by CTS Eventim, the German ticketing giant who, you may remember, have been the most vocal opponents to the Live Nation Ticketmaster merger here in the UK.

The all new Live Nation Germany will be headed up by Hamburg-based Johannes Wessels, and their first project will be three Lady Gaga shows. Live Nation International boss Alan Ridgeway told CMU: "Germany is the fourth largest music market in the world and represents huge untapped potential for Live Nation. In Johannes, we have a promoter of 25 years' music industry experience who has promoted artists including Justin Timberlake, Foo Fighters and Neil Young".

The recently merged Live Master also made an announcement regarding its ticketing operations in Germany, confirming that Klaus Zemke will become MD of Ticketmaster Germany. Zemke has experience working at two German ticketing rivals - Ticket Online and the aforementioned CTS.

back to top

FACEBOOK MAY SUE DAILY MAIL
Not really music news, but an interesting story nonetheless. Facebook is threatening to sue the Daily Mail after the tabloid wrongly claimed that one of its freelance writers, a middle aged man, had successfully posed as a 14 year old girl on the uber-social network and that, "within seconds" he was approached by older men who "wanted to perform a sex act" (or, possibly, a 14 year old girl writing for a rival paper successfully posing as an older man, who knows?).

The Mail's big mistake was that while said freelance writer - Mark Williams-Thomas - had indeed posed as a 14 year old girl on a social network and had indeed been approached by a dodgy older man, the social network he was using was not Facebook, and he claims that the paper were well aware of that fact but incorrectly edited his article to name the market-leading social networking site anyway.

Facebook quickly threatened a libel action, and The Mail subsequently removed the firm's name from the story online and published an apology. Well, I say they removed the firm's name from the report online, they did cut it from the article and headline, but Facebook say they are still name-checked in the story's page title and URL, both of which influence Google searches. The paper admitted that because of "technical issues" (ie, no one at the Mail knows how to work a website) that was indeed still the case, but that the paper was now getting those Facebook mentions removed too.

Nevertheless, Facebook says it is still consulting its lawyers over the reputation damage done by the original story, and the paper's slow removal of all elements of it. A UK spokesman told the Guardian that the company was assessing what "brand damage has been done".

back to top

ADAM BUXTON ANNOUNCES 6MUSIC RETURN
Adam Buxton has announced that he hopes to return to BBC 6music with a new solo show in the very near future, before being rejoined by Joe Cornish for their Saturday morning show later in the year. How could they possibly shut down a station that offers all that?

Of the new show, for which a pilot edition with special guest Julian Barratt from The Mighty Boosh will be recorded this very day, Buxton told CMU: "At the moment it's called 'Adam Buxton's Big Mix Tape' (can't help doing the puns, sorry) and it's supposed to be kind of like a compilation tape that I've made for the listeners with a different theme or mood each week. The pilot Mix Tape is called 'Øddens' and features some of my favourite weird but accessible music by both well known and less well known artists. The show is two hours so it's divided into two sides with a guest joining me for an hour to add their own tracks and just talk generally about any other rubbish that comes up".

Sounds delightful. But we couldn't let him go (okay, I'm taking these quotes off the Adam & Joe BBC blog, but let's just pretend for a moment) without getting him to talk about his recent appearance on Channel 4 News, where he challenged BBC Director General Mark Thompson to a fight over his proposed plan to shut 6music.

Buxton told us (wink): "I was called upon to say my part on 'Channel 4 News' though apart from inviting Mark 'Tommo' Thompson out for some punching I didn't really say anything very useful. All the stirring and important stuff I'd been planning went out of the window as soon as I heard the man in my earpiece telling me we were live in five seconds. After that it was just a question of not weeping or swearing. I really meant to give Black Squadron a shout out but that was one of many things that got away from me on the night".

back to top

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

BBC TRUST TO REVIEW 3, 4, 7 AND LOCAL RADIO
The BBC Trust has confirmed that it is about to initiative a review of the operations of Radios 3, 4 and 7, as well as the Corporation's local radio services. They will presumably say the services are basically performing well but could do with more promotion, and then ten days later BBC chief Tommo Thompson will announce all said services are to be closed down.

The Trust's review of local radio will be particularly welcomed by the Beeb's local stations, who are already processing the results of two internal reviews that reached conflicting conclusions (one of them Tommo's controversial cut backs document). Fingers crossed the Trust's review on local radio will manage to contradict both previous review documents, because I read somewhere that total confusion is very healthy when you're trying to run a communications-based organisation.

Confirming the planned review, the Trust's David Liddiment told reporters: "Radios 3, 4 and 7 all offer output which is hard to find elsewhere - and licence fee payers tell us that the BBC's radio stations serving the nations and local regions make an invaluable contribution to their communities. As well as the current performance of these services we'll also be looking at the BBC's future plans for the stations to ensure they are robust and deliverable. If change is needed the Trust can alter the stations' service licences or ask the BBC Executive to address the issues we raise".

back to top

CHRIS BROWN ASKS FANS TO HELP HIM OUT
It seems radio stations in the US have been reluctant to play tracks from Chris Brown's latest album 'Graffiti'. Something to do with him beating up one of the biggest lady pop stars of the day and then leaving her unconscious in the street, apparently.

In a video message this week, Brown asked fans to help him get back on the airwaves, though he didn't get off to a great start grammatically speaking, which will surely go down badly with his core fanbase. Anyway, he made the following plea to fans: "I ain't never really did this but right now I need all of my fans' help. It's crazy because a lot of radio stations aren't playing my records. They're not being that supportive and I wouldn't expect them to. It's on the fans and what you guys do in your power to bring me back because that's all I need. Nothing else will do that except for the fans. There's nothing else that I can do. I'm doing everything that I need to do. I'm doing me as a person and I'm a better guy".

He added: "My singing and my music I do it for you guys and everything else but it won't be possible if I'm not relevant on the radio and it wouldn't be possible for me to be an artist if I don't have any support. I just want all my fans to help me".

We contacted Chris' fans to ask them for a comment but one had just popped to the shop and the other was asleep.

back to top

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

JESSICA SIMPSON DOESN'T BRUSH HER TEETH
Well, here's the revelation you've been waiting for: Jessica Simpson doesn't brush her teeth. Instead, she goes for the classic mouthwash/sleeve combo. Nice. She also loves fried things. And radio, apparently.

Get it straight from the horse's mouth, here (though probably avoid getting too close): www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGuamWUA9us

back to top