MORRISSEY GEARS UP FOR A BUSY YEAR 31/03/04
Morrissey has added several additional US tour dates to what is shaping up to be his busiest appearance schedule in years. Newly announced is a five day stand at New York's Apollo Theatre in early May plus an April 17 show at the Joint in Las Vegas. Last week Morrisey confirmed an April 22-24, 26-27 run at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre. Yesterday, he signed on as a mainstage performer for the 2004 Lollapaloooza tour. In the United Kingdom, Morrissey will appear Aug. 28-29 at the Carling Reading and Leeds Festivals.
GLOBAL RECORD INDUSTRY TARGETS MUSIC DOWNLOADERS 31/03/04
The global recording industry launched a crackdown yesterday on music piracy, filing lawsuits against 247 people in Germany, Denmark, Italy and Canada who are accused of swapping recordings illegally over the internet. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), based in London, said that further lawsuits would be launched in different countries in coming months, as part of the federation's campaign against music piracy. "This
is our first co-ordinated effort to take this campaign over the range of countries
where file-stealing is a problem," said Allen Dixon, IFPI's general counsel and executive director.
The IFPI has promised similar actions in other countries in the coming months. National music-industry groups in Sweden and Britain recently began warning users of online song-sharing networks by sending them online instant messages. However the record industry has faced criticism for failing to encourage and facilitate legal on-line services whilst using draconian measures to stop illegal downloading when there is no alternative. The IFPI claims that music piracy is a major cause of the global decline in music sales over the past five years. It said worldwide sales of recorded music fell 7 per cent in 2002, and added that it expected figures for 2003 to show sales dipping by at least the same amount.
Source: IFPI
GUNS N ROSES CANCEL ROCK IN RIO APPEARANCE 31/03/04
Guns N Roses have cancelled their headline appearance at Rock In Rio in Lisbon with frontman and sole original member Axl Rose blaming the departure of guitarist Buckethead. In a statement from the band Rose blamed Buckhead's increasigly erratic behaviour as the main factor in withdrawing from the event saying that the band could not rehearse or commit to touring or performing even though Buckethead was under contract to the band.
Source: Billboard
VAN HALEN SUMMER TOUR DETAILS ANNOUNCED 28/03/04
Van Halen have confirmed the routing for their summer tour, as well as the return of vocalist Sammy Hagar after an eight-year absence. The group's official Web site features the greeting "Eddie, Alex, Mike & Sammy
Hit the Road" as well as a new photo of the foursome. The tour will play North American arenas beginning June 11th in Greensboro, N.C., and ending on August 19th in Los Angeles.
Source: www.van-halen.com
TICKETS FOR TESTING ON FIRST LADIES TOUR 28/03/04
The First Ladies tour featuring Beyonce, Alicia Keyes and Missy Elliott has teamed up with Black Aids Institute to promote AIDS awareness and promote testing for HIV.
The divas are giving away tickets for shows through local radio promotion to fans who are prepared to undertake an HIV test - 'tickets for testing'. The campaign, Rhythms For Health. is aimed to halt the spread of the Aids virus in America, particularly in black women. the diagnosis rate for black women is 23 times that for white women. The Insitute are giving away tickets on all 14 dates of the First Ladies tour and hope to give away more than 5,000 tickets by the end of the year from 100 dates overall including other artists.
USA PASSPORT DEADLINE EXTENSION IS SOUGHT 26/03/04
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge are warning that a deadline that requires 27 industrialized countries to issue their citizens computer-coded passports to travel to the United States could threaten the American travel industry and the economy in general.
The countries - 22 European nations, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore - have to begin providing passports with technology that recognizes travelers' faces by October 26th. Congress imposed the deadline after the 2001 World Trade Centre attacks. The State Department says nearly all the countries are expected to miss the deadline, forcing millions of visitors with old-fashioned passports to apply for visas for the United States.
In their letter to Congress, Mr.Powell and Mr.Ridge said none of the 27 countries could issue the new passports "in sufficient numbers to meet the legitimate needs of their traveling nationals" by October. They emphasized that the delays resulted from technical problems, not lack of effort and are asking for a delay in the implementation of the new rules.
Source: RAZcoVisas RAZcoVisas@aol.com
BRITISH RECORD INDUSTRY TO TARGET INDIVIDUAL DOWNLOADERS 26/03/04
The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is planning to mirror the recent legal actions taken by the recording industry in America after its own research, covering 3,667 12-74 year olds, showed that over seven million Britains downloaded music illegally (18% of the UK population).
Peter Jamieson , the BPI chairman, said that the UK record industry could become obsolete within a decade if the internet continued to offer an 'anarchic free for all'. 92% of those sampled admitted to using illegal sources for downlaods and teenagers were the most prolific, with nearly half of all teenagers under 19 admitting that they downloaded more than ten tracks a month. The BPI say this is having a devastating effect on retail sales. The entertainment industry fears that broadband will add to its woes and that the film industry is next in line to suffer from downloading. 5 million homes will be connected to broadband by 2005.
The BPI/BVA survey showed that at 3pm on March 24th 2.6 million people were logged onto Kazaa sharing more than 630 million files. Spending on singles dropped 59% in 2003 and that 375 recordable CDRs will be sold in 2004, most to make illegal 'burnt' recordings.
Source: BPI/British Video Association survey by TNS.
MADONNA'S MAVERICK SUES WARNERS 26/03/04
Madonna 's Maverick Records label has issued legal proceedings against Warner Music Group and Time Warner Inc. for breach of contract accusing the record company and its former parent of mismanagement and improper accounting that allegedly cost the singer and her partners millions of dollars. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between Madonna and Warner over Maverick, a joint venture the singer and record company launched in 1992. Maverick claims Warner violated the venture agreement by failing to pay for "guaranteed" services like radio promotion, marketing and sales meant to support Maverick artists.
The suit also contends Warner obscured label profits by using "artificial and improper accounting methodology to create the false impression of losses."Warner's recation was that the Maverick's claims were "baseless, unsubstantiated and without merit." The lawsuit seeks to terminate the Maverick-Warners relationship and seeks damages. Time Warner sold Warner Music Group in November to an investor group including Edgar Bronfman Jr., Thomas H. Lee Partners, Bain Capital and Providence Equity Partners.
WEMBLEY MAKES SHUN KEY APPOINTMENT 26/03/04
Wembley (London) Limited has announced that Charlie Shun, formerly of Earl's
Court & Olympia, is to take up a new position of Head of Special Projects and Promoter Relationships for the Wembley site.
The appointment comes as the Wembley complex is about to undergo a £1bn redevelopment that will transform the site into a major new leisure and residential quarter for the capital. The Masterplan Application was submitted in October 2003 and, subject to consent being achieved, it is hoped that work will start on site later this year.
Charlie 's new role focuses on the creation and development of special events, both for the Arena, and for the new public spaces, as Wembley is transformed into a 365-day-a-year leisure attraction. The transformation is being delivered by Wembley's owners, Quintain Estates and Development plc. Nick Shattock, Director of Wembley said 'Wembley has an exciting future ahead and our masterplan will deliver a thriving new leisure destination to the site surrounding the New National Stadium. This is a key appointment generating new events for the complex to match the exciting transformation that it will undergo over the coming years.'Janet Viazzani, Managing Director Wembley (London) Limited, said: 'We are looking forward to welcoming Charlie back to Wembley. The refurbished Arena is scheduled to reopen in the autumn of 2005, and delivering new events to the new public spaces is a key objective for the redevelopment.'
MTV EUROPE BOYCOTT LOOMS 24/03/04
Top stars including Craig David, Basement Jaxx, The White Stripes and The Prodigy are preparing to boycott MTV across Europe in protest at the amount of money the TV music channel is prepared to pay for the rights to broadcast their videos.
MTV Networks Europe has set a deadline of March 31 for independent record labels representing artists to agree to a new rights contract worth less than half of the previous deal. However, the majority of independent record companies in Europe are understood to have agreed to reject MTV's offer and are preparing to withhold the video rights to their artists. If an agreement is not reached before the end of the month, Viacom-owned MTV could lose access to around 20% of the European music market.
Larger independents including Telstar, Beggars Group and Sanctuary have joined forces to negotiate a new MTV contract through intellectual rights' body Video Performance Limited. However, negotiations between VPL and MTV have reached an impasse and MTV is now seeking to agree direct deals with the record companies.
THE DARKNESS UPGRADE TO BIGGER STATESIDE VENUES 24/03/04
UK chart toppers The Darkness will play larger venues than originally expected on its upcoming North American tour. Thirteen of the band's upcoming dates in the USA have been moved to larger venues because of the high demand for tickets. The British camp-metal act tours to support its debut self funded album, last year's 'Permission to Land' (EastWest / Atlantic). The band tour between March 26 and April 19 and the tour includes visits to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Boston, Atlanta, New Orleans, Los Angles, Denver, Dallas and Houston.
ILMC SAFETY FOCUS GROUP CALLS FOR VITAL FUNDING 24/03/04
The ILMC Safety Focus Group (SFG) is looking tothe internatonal live music industry to find the last E29,000 it needs for the SGF's report into worker safety at events. Leon Ramakers has promised the last E5,000 needed and added that the project was "too
important to fail".
Ramakers , the managing director of the Dutch promoters Mojo Concerts (part of Clear Channel Entertainment), urged the live music industry to support the work of the ILMC Safety Focus Group (SFG) at the International Live Music Conference XVI this March. The SFG is currently working on the safety project for workers at European concerts and festivals which has attracted E160,000 funding from the European Union.
However, the SFG will only qualify for that funding if this is "matched" by E40,000 from the industry itself. Ramakers promised to donate E5,000 to the project once the remaining E35,000 has been found. Other firm pledges made at ILMC XVI (including those by Primary Talent, Yourope, Big Day Out and KKT) mean that the Safety Focus Group has raised roughly E6,000 so far, bringing the SFG's target down to E29,000.
"The European
live music industry is being offered E160,000 by the European Union," said Ramakers at ILMC XVI. "If
it can't donate the extra money to take advantage of this unique opportunity,
it does not deserve recognition as a proper industry. This project is too
important to fail."
"We are hoping to raise the full amount in the next four weeks," said SFG member Bert van Horck. "The
success of this worker safety project is vital to demonstrate that the live
music industry is making safety a priority. If this project succeeds, it
will help to earn recognition for the industry at government level and pave
the way for future publicly-funded projects."
For details of how to donate to the ILMC Safety Focus Group: email mike.gartside@wanadoo.fr for a donation form or phone Mike Gartside on +33 (0) 468 24 78 25
MEAN FIDDLER LAUNCH DOWNLOAD SERVICE 23/03/04
Mean Fiddler Group , Vince Power's UK based company who promote the Reading and Leeds Festivals are to launch a download service. Mean Fiddler Media, or MFM, will provide digital download services for the sale of music over both Internet and mobile phones in the UK. The company say they plan to eventually expand the service across the world. The company has teamed up with labels including Warner Music International, BMG and V2 for their service.
Source: www.nme.com
US RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION WEBSITE TARGETED 23/03/04
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has had its website attacked byt he MyDoom virus, taking the site offline for five days. The MyDoom mass-mailing variant started spreading in February through e-mail, infecting Windows computers whenever people clicked on the attached file. The number of computers infected by the virus is unknown. The program has been causing compromised systems to attack the RIAA and Microsoft's sites between March 17th and March 22. Microsoft's site has resisted the virus so far.
BRITNEY INJURY FORCES RESCHEDULING 23/03/04
Britney Spears has pulled out of two dates on her US tour after injuring her knee. The star was performing in Moline, Illinois when she injured her knee during a dance routine in the encore. The performance was cut short and the singer came out to apologise. As a result, shows in Chicago and Detroit have also been pulled whilst she rests the knee. The dates will be rescheduled for April.
NEW LIVE REM DVD 23/03/04
REM are to release a live DVD featuring a performance filmed on their 2003 European tour. The DVD, titled 'Perfect Square' features the band's performance at Wiesbaden Bowling Green in Germany on July 19 last year. The set features songs which span the band's entire career, from the current single 'Animal' to unreleased oldie 'Permanent Vacation', which was a staple of the band's early live sets following their formation in 1980.
BYTE SIZED NEWS FOR BUSY BODS 19/03/04
PAUL KING FACES FRAUD CHARGES 18/03/04
Paul King , former manager of Tears For Fears, is facing a fraud charge after investors in a company set up to exploit volcanic ash which acted to 'sober up' the user. The Times reports that King and investors set up a company called Soba International Limited and floated the company on the stock exchange. But the prosecution claim that King set
up a mirror company to siphon off investor's money totalling some £485,000
(E670,000). Mr King denies two counts of fraudulent trading between August 2000 and July 2002.
DIDO HEADLINES V LINE UP 18/03/04
The two site V Festival held in Chelmsford and Staffordshire in the UK will be headined by Dido, allegedly after being promised etxra special toilets. Muse, The Pixies, Primal Scream, Pink and The Strokes are also confirmed. Jamie Cullum, who played to a packed and enthusiastic crowd at this months ILMC, joins the bill.
TOP ARENA SOLD IN MAJOR PROPERTY DEAL 17/03/04
It will be business as usual at the M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, despite a change of owner for Europe's largest indoor entertainment venue.
Anschutz Entertainment Group is on the verge of buying the Victoria Exchange complex in Manchester which houses two office blocks, a multi-storey car park and the 20,000 seat arena.
The deal does not mean that AEG will run the arena. What has become the world's busiest concert venue with over 870,000 concert tickets sold last year will continue to be operated and managed by SMG Europe. Philadelphia based SMG, which is jointly owned by the Hyatt hotel chain and Aramark, has a long term contract to manage the venue until at least 2015.
John Sutherland , senior vice-president of SMG Europe said "This
is simply a change of landlord for us. It does not affect our role. SMG
will still be in sole charge of booking the acts and running the arena."
"It has become a world class venue under out management, and it's
a case of business as usual"
It was announced last October that the arena complex was up for sale by its then owners Vector Investments, because P&O, one of its biggest shareholders was cutting its property investments. The price guide for the site was put at £50 million.
Further information: John Knight SMG Europe 0161-950-5333
SHARKEY OUTLINES LIVE MUSIC FORUM'S ROLE 16/03/04
Feargal Sharkey , Chair of The Live Music Forum, explained the role of the new body at the ILMC. Established following the passage of the Licensing Act 2003 the Forum includes representatives from the music industry, the Arts Council, grass roots music organisations, local authorities, small venues and Government.
The aims of the Forum are:
The Act was passed against a tide of cross party opposition in the House of Lords and from the music industry. The Act also adds to the ever escalating plethora of legislation which the music industry has to deal with including the recent regulations covering door staff (The Private Security Industry (Licences) Regulations 2004), the Disability Discrimination Act, the new rules applicable to booking agents in the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 , the Copyright & Related Rights Regulations 2003 (EU Directive 2001/29/EC) and now the implementation of the latest EU Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive.
Comments to the Forum can be made to LiveMusicForum@culture.gsi.gov.uk and the Depatrment of Culture Media & Sport's website is at www.culture.gov.uk .
INTERNET PROVIDERS TO SUE SPAMMERS 16/03/04
In a move to stamp out the ever growing tide of unwanted e-mails clogging up subscriber's inboxes AOL, Yahoo!, Earthlink and Microsoft have joined together to combat the problem and bring legal actions against illegal spammers. Under US law a spammer can be prosecuted for failing to provide return addresses, using false email addresses, advertising illegal products and using misleading information. The joint effort has announced 220 law suits yesterday. One defendant allegedly sent 94 million unwanted emails in January alone. The European Community has also recently invoked strict laws to prevent spammers targeting private individuals as part of its privacy laws.
AGENTS ASSOCIATION WARNS THAT NEW DTI RULE CHGANGES COULD SEE AGENTS IN BREACH OF LAW 16/03/04
The former president of the Agents Association, Bob James has warned that the new rule changes which affect agents which become effective April 2004 will leave many of his members 'at risk of a criminal record and thousand of pounds worth of fines' if they unwittingly break the rules The Stage reports.
Under the revised Conduct of Employment Agency and Employment Business Regulations 2003 agents cannot charge clients up-front fees and now must pre-agree commission rates in written terms of agreement. The Regulations also make provisions for the management of client monies and for agents to make such enquiries that are 'reasonably practicable' to ensure health and safety of performers.
Paul Fenn represented music industry agents in representations to the government during the drafting of the Regulations. See RTC News (09/02/04).
STARBUCKS TO OFFER COFFEE WITH DOWNLOADS 16/03/04
Less fattening than a danish or a doughnut, Seattle coffee giant Starbucks is planning an in-store music service allowing customers to download music files, using Hewlett-Packard tablet computers to make their choices. The first musical Starbucks will open in Santa Monica and the service will expand into 2,500 stores over the next two years.
The company says the effort is aimed at capitalizing on the forces revamping the music-retailing industry, where advances in digital-music technology push customers onto the Internet, and traditional brick-and-mortar record stores struggle to survive. The coffee chain already has licensing agreements with most of the major record labels that will give it the ability to offer everything from Britney Spears and The Polyphonic Spree to Mozart and bluegrass.
IFPI STEPS UP OFFENSIVE AGAINST ILLEGAL CD PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA 16/03/04
The international recording industry today announced the filing of compensation claims in excess of one million dollars against the Roff Technologies optical disc plant in Russia. It is alleged that the plant is behind the unauthorised manufacture of CDs containing international repertoire by artists including Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and U2.
This is the second major set of claims filed against a Russian CD plant since IFPI announced its offensive at the end of last year, targeting plants in Russia believed to be supplying the country's lucrative trade in pirate discs. The plaintiff companies are claiming a combined indemnity of 40 million roubles, or US$1,400,000. They are also asking that Roff Technologies halts further production of the titles alleged to have been illegally manufactured, and for the confiscation of machinery and equipment used to produce them. A preliminary hearing for one of the claims was held on March 3 and another has been set for March 15. The remaining six claims are currently with the Moscow City Appeal Court on a procedural issue, and preliminary hearings are expected to be set in due course.
Source: IFPI
ILMC 'ARTHUR AWARD WINNERS' 14/03/04
Here are the results of the International Live Music Conference's annual Arthur Awards, presented last night at their Gala Dinner:
SMG ADMIT THAT VIRGIN RADIO MAY HAVE BEEN EXPENSIVE 11/03/04
The Scottish Media Group (SMG) today admitted
that the £225 million they paid to DJ Chris Evans may have been too much. SMG maintained that profit margins were good with the station and that they had paid the going rate for the station.
SMG's announced profits of £24.2 million on a turnover of £188
million to their year end at december 2003.
CHUGG, LUNDEN AND TUDOR JOIN CANCELLATION PANEL 11/03/04
Australian promoter Michael Chugg, Wembley Arena's Peter Tudor and artist manager Petri Lunden from Sweden's Talent Trust are all confirmed for the 'cancellation' panel at 12.00 on Saturday 13th March at the ILMC Conference. Uk Lawyer Ben Challis chairs what could be one of the most interesting ILMC sessions as the Conference debates the near 'taboo' subject of event cancellation and debates who pays for what when an event is cancelled.
ILMC SAFETY FOCUS GROUP TO TACKLE SUPER-SCALE EVENTS 10/03/04
The ILMC Safety Focus Group will hosts a discussion of crowd safety issues at ILMC 16 looking at the modern trend towards festivals and events with attendance above and beyond the 100,000 level including recent shows by the Rolling Stones and Robbie Williams. The SFG has brought together a panel spanning the entire range of interests including Deborah Rees from www.safeconcerts.com , an audience member who felt so strongly about her experiences at large-scale events that she set up a website about it, Sabine Funk, production manager of RhEINKULTUR, one of Germany's largest free open air festivals with an estimated attendance of up to 200,000 people and chair Bert van Horck, managing director of leading crowd management company, ICMS. The session is on Saturday 13 March at 10.15am.
MTV SWITCHED OFF IN 1.6 MILLION US HOMES 10/03/04
Satellite television provider Echostar turned off MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon across the USA in a contract dispute with Viacom over the cost of its programmes. An estimated 1.6 million of Echostar's customers were affected.
Customers in Denver saw a message from Echostar saying the media giant was charging too much for its services. In turn MTV's owners, Viacom, urged Echostar's clients to stop subscribing to its Dish Network.
NEW US PASSPORT REGULATIONS COULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS 09/03/04
The new passport regulations that were mandated by the US Congress and come into force on the 26th October 2004 could lead to a 'significant visa backlog' the New York Times reports. The news rules mean that all countries need to comply with the provision of a computer coded passport.
The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs told Congress that without the technology enabled passport visitors would need a visa. At the moment neither Japan nor twenty-two European nations will meet the deadline meaning a huge upsurge in visa applications from industrialized nations and predicted backlogs in processing visas. Ron Zeelens from RAZCo visas added "the new rules will mean that European, Australian / New Zealand and Japanese artists wanting to visit the US must secure a tourist / business (B1/B2) visa in advance of travel and added to this there may well be significant delays in obtaining the necessary O or P visa that will allow members of the entertainment industry to work in temporary work in the US".
Source: RAZCo Visas / New York Times 05/03/04
ILMC SAFETY FOCUS GROUP URGES PROMOTERS TO SUPPORT EVENT SAFETY 08/03/04
The ILMC Safety Focus Group (SFG) is asking delegates at this year's ILMC to demonstrate their commitment to safety by donating the 40,000 euros of matching funding needed to complete its European project. SFG Administrator Mike Gartside says that the commitment from the EC will only be fulfilled if the live music industry supports the project with this matching funding. The project will provide a web-based worker safety "tool" for the organisers of concerts and festivals throughout Europe. This tool - which may take the form of worker safety guidelines or an organiser's "checklist", depending on feedback from its potential users - represents the first ever attempt to draw together working practices and legislation used throughout Europe's live music industries.
By the time the ILMC opens its doors this Friday, the SFG will already have completed the first phase of the project, including an historic seminar at the Royal Albert Hall where around 50 live music production experts from all over Europe will have discussed worker safety issues. "It's vital that the live music industry continues to improve its safety procedures," says Roskilde Festival's Henrik Nielsen. "Promoters must also be seen to support safety work if they are to have any influence on legislation imposed by Europe or national governments. By contributing to the Safety Focus Group's European project, promoters will be demonstrating that safe practices at concerts is their number one priority."
Contact Mike Gartside [ mike.gartside@wanadoo.fr ]. Donation forms will be available at the ILMC. For further information +33 468 24 70 42.
VIRGIN TO LAUNCH DIGITAL JUKEBOX ONLINE STORE 08/03/04
Virgin Digital , is developing its own digital jukebox and online music store with music delivery company MusicNet that will be available by the end of August.
Newly launched Virgin Digital, with offices in Los Angeles and London, is part of Richard Branson's Virgin Group which includes his airline, V2 record label and mobile phone service. Ultimately, Virgin Digital will work on mobile phones, handheld devices and other consumer electronics gear, The product will include a jukebox, the ability to burn, rip and encode songs onto CDs, access to Virgin's digital music club and its Radio Free Virgin Internet radio stations.
Virgin Digital will be moving into an already crowded field, populated by Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes software and online music store, Roxio Inc.'s revived Napster service, MyCokeMusic, OD2 and MusicMatch. MusicNet is owned by the major record labels (Universal, Warners, RTL (BMG), Sony and EMI).
UK CROWD MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SIA 05/03/04
At a meeting held on the 3rd March between the UKCMA and the Security Industry Association (SIA) the SIA stated that they now wish to reconsider their decision not to include the event steward in the new license requirement program. As things stand at this time, stewards employed directly by a venue or football club will not need a license but those supplied by a private security company will. Mick Upton adds "If
this decision stands it would of course have a dramatic effect on the number
of events that could take place and the cost to the organiser. It is now up
to the industry to present evidence to the SIA to support
a claim that stewards have a safety role not a security function."
AUSTRALIAN COURT BACKS RECORD INDUSTRY RAIDS 05/03/04
The record industry in Australia has retained the right to use draconian court orders to seize evidence in cases of alleged illegal file swapping and piracy.
Sharman Networks , the owner and distributor of the Kazaa file-sharing application, is thinking of appealing the Federal Court's decsion (04/03/04) which upheld a ruling allowing the record industry to conduct raids on its premises last month. The orders were used to conduct raids on its premises and several others last month. Justice Murray Wilcox upheld the validity of the Anton Piller orders by which a court empowers a party, that has alleged wrongdoing, the opportunity to enter premises and search for evidence.
In his ruling, Justice Wilcox acknowledged that Sharman has complied with legal proceedings in the past and that the company would conduct itself in the same manner in Australia. Sharman added "multinational recording companies are merely 'forum shopping' in jurisdictions around the world as they continue to lose their cases overseas. Sharman bought the Kazaa software with the express purpose of creating a marketplace for promotion and sale of legitimate, licensed creative works."
MUSIC INDUSTRY LOBBIES FOR REDUCED VAT RATE 05/03/04
The European music sector has urged EU Member States to ensure that music is recognised as a prime candidate for reduced VAT rates during the current review of the 6th VAT Directive. VAT on sound recordings is currently set at between 15% and 25%, while other cultural products such as magazines, newspapers, books, entrance tickets to cinemas, theatres and concerts benefit from reduced rates upwards of 5%.
All parties involved in the creation, production and retail of music have called for an end to this unjust discrimination against music, ahead of a meeting of EU Finance Ministers in Brussels on 9 March. The call was made by the VAT Coalition comprises representatives of authors, composers (GESAC), music publishers (IMPA), performing artists (GIART) , artist managers (IMMF), independent and major record companies (IMPALA and IFPI), entertainment retailers (GERA), the collecting societies (ICMP) and the European Music Office. Their position has the backing of more than 1,300 European artists and composers who have signed petitions calling for a VAT reduction on sound recordings. In addition, over 140,000 EU consumers have signed petitions demanding a VAT cut on recorded music.
Source: VAT Coalition/IFPI
DOWNLOAD LINEUP ANNOUNCED 05/03/04
The full lineup for ClearChannel's DOWNLOAD 2004 has been announced. The two site event has Metallica headlining at Glasgow Green on June 2nd and Donnington Park on June 6th. Linkin Park headline in Glasgow on June 3rd and at Donnington on June 5th. Co-promoted with DFC and sponsored by Kerrang other acts at both sites include Korn, Slipknot, Iggy & The
Stooges, Machine Head and The Distillers.
Source; www.downloadfestival.co.uk
DVD TAKES A 85% MARKET SHARE 05/03/04
New figures released by the British Video Association show the remarkable popularity of DVD. The format now dominates both the sales and rentals markets for films and music and 0ver 85% of films sold are on the DVD format. Event with rentals, over seven out of ten top films like 'Pirates of the Caribbean', 'Identity' and 'Bruce Almighty' are taken out in the DVD format. However, whilst the BVA expects the DVD market share to grow it believes households will keep their VHS machines and existing tape library for some time.
Source: BVA Monthly Research summary
METALLICA JOIN IN THE DOWNLOAD MARCH 03/03/04
Metallica , who were the original instigators of legal actions against the (then illegal) Napster are launching a new website where fans will be able to buy downloads of recordings from their current US tour along with exclusive artwork. The new site www.livemetallica.com will make the band's live sets available to download as MP3s for $9.95 a gig four days after each of the concerts which start in New York this April.
A printable booklet and labels will also be available for those who want to burn the tracks to CD. Metallica will be playing the Download Festival on June 5 & 6 at Donnington Park and on Glasgow Green on June 2 & 3. On the same day the now legal Napster have now announced the UK launch of their download service.
WARNER MUSIC SALE GOES THROUGH 02/03/04
Time Warner Inc 's $2.6 billion sale of the Warner Music Group to the investor group led by former Universal chief Edgar Bronfman Jr. was completed on Monday 1st March and the newly formed independent music company began an anticipated wave of staff cuts by ousting three high-ranking label executives.
It was reported that Atlantic Records co-chairman Val Azzoli and president Ron Shapiro stepped down, as did Elektra Records chief executive Sylvia Rhone. Bronfman and an investor group that includes Thomas H. Lee Partners, Bain Capital and Providence Equity Partners, came to terms on a deal to buy Warner Music Group from Time Warner in November trumping EMI's offer for Warner's record labels.
Bronfman 's purchase, which also includes Time Warner's Warner/Chappell Music publishing business, creates one of the world's largest independent music companies, with an artist roster that includes Kid Rock, Madonna, Faith Hill and Metallica.
NEW REGULATIONS FOR DOOR SUPERVISORS AND SECURITY STAFF INTRODUCED IN THE UK 01/03/04
In a move to take the image of door staff away from 'bouncers' and into the new millennium the UK Government have introduced The Private Security Industry (Licences) Regulations 2004 which are effective from the 01 March 2004. These Regulations make provision in relation to applications to the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for the grant of licences under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to engage in the activity of door supervision for public houses, clubs and comparable venues. The new Regulations prescribe the application form to be used for such applications and prescribe the forms of licence to be issued for that activity.
A distinction is made between licences for people who carry out that activity themselves and licences for those who act as manager, supervisor, employer or director etc of people who carry out that activity. An obligation is placed on door staff to wear the appropriate identifying licence at all times when working, to notify the SIA of any conviction or caution and to produce the licence on demand to the SIA or the police. Mick Upton adds "The introduction of a mandatory requirement for all door supervisors to be licensed was brought about in response to allegations of criminal activity by some night club door staff.
On the plus side the new regulations will tidy up a chaotic situation brought about by local councils introducing their own schemes... on the downside, regulation has been introduced without consultation with the broad range of sport and entertainment interests that might possibly be affected. The United Kingdom Crowd Management Association (UKCMA) made strenuous efforts to be included in formulating sensible legislation but was sadly ignored. Consequently new legislation classified all staff involved in crowd management or crowd control operations both indoor and outdoor to be door supervisors and therefore required a licence. It is estimated by the UKCMA that this would have increased cost to the client of somewhere in the order of 600%!"
Source:Ben Challis www.musiclawupdates.org
See: www.hmso.gov.uk