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Dragons' Den entrepreneur invests in indie band
Forget the X-Factor and the like: the best media stage to show off your potential as a musician is now the Dragons' Den.
"Today sees the launch one of the more unusual partnerships in British business when Peter Jones, the Dragons' Den entrepreneur, invests £75,000 of his own money into marketing an aspiring pop band.
Until recently Hamfatter, a Cambridge quintet, whose music has been compared to Belle and Sebastian and The Divine Comedy, were a struggling indie band toiling away on the "toilet circuit". They had received a couple of offers from record labels but were put off by the draconian terms and conditions they would have to sign.
So instead they decided on a rather unconventional pitch for investment on the BBC2 show Dragons' Den where budding entrepreneurs attempt to persuade five financial backers to fund their ideas and innovations.
Tonight, viewers of the show will see Mr Jones captivated by the band's performance and agree to invest in the band in return for 30 per cent of any profits. Both sides say they have come up with an entirely new business model for the music industry."
Forget the X-Factor and the like: the best media stage to show off your potential as a musician is now the Dragons' Den. ... more -
Barenaked Ladies Frontman Arrested For Cocain Possesion
Police in Syracuse, N.Y., said Page was arrested Friday along with two American women after police noticed something suspicious in an apartment in the village of Fayette.
"As [the officers] approached the apartment they saw people in the window sitting at a table and it looked like they were engaged in something. There was a white capsule and a white powdery substance that later tested positive for cocaine." said Capt. Bill Bleyle with the Manlius Police Department in New York State.
Page, 38, is charged with possession of a controlled substance. Police said Page was released on $10,000 bail.
Bleyle said a further search of the apartment turned up more cocaine and some marijuana. However he said the charges in connection with Page only related to the cocaine.
Page's manager, Terry McBride, said he cannot comment while the matter is before the courts, but added he's confident his client will be cleared of all charges. Until then, said McBride, it's "business as usual for the Barenaked Ladies."
The band recently released the album Snacktime, its first collection of original children's songs.
Page is scheduled to appear in court July 17.
Police in Syracuse, N.Y., said Page was arrested Friday along with two American women after police noticed something suspicious in an ... more -
Boy band promoter ordered to repay victims $300M
ORLANDO, Fla. - Lou Pearlman and federal authorities have finally agreed on how much the former boy band promoter swindled from banks and investors in a decades-long scam: a staggering $300 million.
That's how much creator of the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync will have to repay, at a minimum, for restitution on the fraud conviction for which he's serving a 25-year prison sentence.
U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharpe on Wednesday asked prosecutors and defense attorneys to amend court documents with the agreed amount.
It will be difficult for Pearlman to repay all the money while he is behind bars. Pearlman made millions in the record industry in the 1990s, but investigators have found that money and more seemingly gone with the collapse of his Ponzi scheme.
He's been allowed to manage — at arm's length — the few remaining music acts he still has. He could also offer wages from whatever job he gets in federal prison, ranging from 12 cents an hour to $1.15 an hour for top-scale factory work.
Attorneys from both sides, the FBI and FDIC determined Pearlman took $195 million from more than 1,000 people in an alleged savings program promising 6 percent to 10 percent returns, and $126.7 million in bogus loans from federally insured banks. Another $70 million was invested by people who thought they were buying shares in companies owned by Pearlman that mostly had no assets. About $95 million was returned to investors over the years, documents show.
But Pearlman's restitution could go up. Sharpe delayed judgment on prosecutors' request to tack on $124 million in interest payments to victims, saying he wanted to see Pearlman return some of the principal first.
"If they had not provided their money to Mr. Pearlman, they would have received interest or some return on their investment," Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg argued in court.
Pearlman's attorney, former public defender Fletcher Peacock, said adding interest would only dissuade Pearlman from repaying any of his debt. Peacock also said it was unfair because the money was never invested.
"This is not a case of where Mr. Pearlman accrued an amount of interest and objected to giving that back to people," Peacock said. "This interest was fictional."
In May, Sharpe said he would shave a month off Pearlman's sentence for each $1 million he returned. So far, Handberg said, no additional money has been recovered.
A federally appointed trustee has found few assets to compensate victims, some of whom lost their life savings.
The judge has ordered that individual investors be repaid first, then banks. He wanted them punished for poorly judging Pearlman worthy of multimillion dollar loans, many secured with the same collateral.
While reserving judgment on interest, Sharpe said it was unfair to charge Pearlman the high rates he promised investors because it would reward their poor decisions.
"Since the time of the sentencing all you've gotten from the defendant is the smirk on his face," Sharpe told prosecutors. "So let's try to get some money first."
Sharpe remanded Pearlman to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which will transfer him to an undetermined facility. Pearlman had been at the Orange County jail, a few miles from his opulent former offices.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Lou Pearlman and federal authorities have finally agreed on how much the former boy band promoter swindled from banks ... more -
Death Row Records auctioned for $24 million
Death Row Records, the hip-hop label that released seminal gangster rap albums by Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, has been auctioned for $24 million.
The New York-based Global Music Group Inc. said in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday that on June 24 it purchased Death Row, including its enviable back catalog and current artist contracts.
The purchase concluded the roller-coaster saga of one of hip-hop's most famous labels. Under owner Marion "Suge" Knight, Death Row sold tens of millions of albums in the heyday of early `90s rap — its artists often flashing the spoils of the high life in music videos — before collapsing in debt and mismanagement.
A former couple, Lydia and Michael Harris, claimed they helped found the label, and won a judgment of $107 million, which they tried to collect in 2006. Unable to pay, Death Row and Knight filed for bankruptcy in April 2006, claiming debts of more than $100 million.
In 2006, a federal judge ordered a bankruptcy trustee takeover of Death Row Records, saying the label had undergone gross mismanagement. Knight's decision to file for bankruptcy protection staved off a move by the court to appoint someone to take control of the record label and his assets.
Global Music Group, an independent label, takes ownership of albums including Dr. Dre's "The Chronic," Shakur's "All Eyez on Me" and Snoop Dogg's "Doggystyle."
Other assets are believed to include unreleased material from Shakur that could result in another posthumous release from the rapper.
Knight has a history of legal problems. He was convicted of assault in 1992 and placed on probation, then jailed for five years in 1996 for violating that probation.
He was returned to jail in 2003 for again violating parole, this time by punching a parking attendant at a Hollywood nightclub. He was released the next year.
In 2006 under questioning from his creditors, Knight denied having money tucked away in foreign countries. His bank account then contained just $11.
Global Music CEO Anthony Davi, Jr., said the label planned to get "the best economic results of the catalog and provide long term stewardship of the artists' work." The company plans to later announce details of its plans for Death Row.
Death Row Records, the hip-hop label that released seminal gangster rap albums by Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, has been aucti... more -
Nickelback signs with Live Nation
Nickelback is another high profile artist to recently sign with concert promoter Live Nation.
Madonna, Jay Z, and Shakira have all made similar deals with Live Nation.
In the new music world, artists are finding it lucrative to sign with non-traditional companies in order to get wider distribution, etc.
The most surprising part of this article is that Nickelback actually moved more than 26 million units worldwide.
Um, world, don't you remember Nickelback is terrible? Nickelback is another high profile artist to recently sign with concert promoter Live Nation. ... more -
£1m for Amy Winehouse to play at your pad?
£3.5m for the Stones, with Rod Stewart and Robbie Williams come at £1m each. In the old days, private gigs were the remit of tribute bands and the has-been star down on his luck, with a mortgage to pay and various kids to support. But as record sales decline, touring costs rise and downloads are worth two a penny, an oligarch's knees-up or a footballer's wedding is now an acceptable way for any Grammy award-winning star to line their pockets. £3.5m for the Stones, with Rod Stewart and Robbie Williams come at £1m each. In the old days, private gigs were the remit of tribute b... more
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Bono Apologizes for Paul McGuinness
I wanted to set the record straight on behalf of the members of U2 on comments made to the BBC by our much-loved and valued manager, Paul McGuinness, regarding Radiohead’s decision to make the music of ‘In Rainbows’ available as a download, using the ‘honesty box’ idea for payment.
We agree with our manager that this is a head-scratching and worrisome time for many musicians who, unlike ourselves, are depending on royalty or publishing cheques to pay the rent (particularly songwriters). We also agree that it is disturbing to see internet service providers and technology companies profit from the so-called ‘disintermediation’ of the music business when so many music lovers are losing their jobs. And while there is no doubt that it’s extremely difficult for a new artist to get the kind of investment on which U2 depended in the first few wobbly years of recording, we disagree with Paul’s assessment of Radiohead’s release as “having backfired to a certain extent.” We think they were courageous and imaginative in trying to figure out some new relationship with their audience. Such imagination and courage are in short supply right now…they’re a sacred talent and we feel blessed to be around at the same time.
With respect,
Bono I wanted to set the record straight on behalf of the members of U2 on comments made to the BBC by our much-loved and valued manage... more -
Denver Music Publishing Summit: music publishing for independent artists
The Music Publishing Summit is coming to Denver, CO!
Sunday August 3rd, 2008 1pm-6pm
Location: The Supreme Courtat the Denver Sheraton1660 Court Street
(16th Street Mall and Court Street )
The Music Publishing Summit is a Three-Part Industry gathering for Independent Artists/Songwriters: If you have ever written a song, this is for you.
We developed this Summit to give Attendees the chance to learn and participate in a comfortable, intimate environment- where all their questions can be answered. Songwriters, Band Members, Managers: we welcome you all.
The Music Publishing Summit is coming to Denver, CO! Sunday August 3rd, 2008 1pm-6pm ... more -
New Kids on the Block are back, with more boy bands on the way
Inspired by the return of New Kids on the Block and the success of High School Musical, labels will be tapping back into the boy band market. Inspired by the return of New Kids on the Block and the success of High School Musical, labels will be tapping back into the boy band ... more
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Radiohead to Prince: Unblock 'Creep' cover videos
After word spread that Prince covered Radiohead's "Creep" at Coachella, the tens of thousands who couldn't be there ran to YouTube for a peek. Everyone was quickly denied — even Radiohead.
All videos of Prince's unique rendition of Radiohead's early hit were quickly taken down, leaving only a message that his label, NPG Records, had removed the clips, claiming a copyright violation. But the posted videos were shot by fans and, obviously, the song isn't Prince's.
In a recent interview, Thom Yorke said he heard about Prince's performance from a text message and thought it was "hilarious." Yorke laughed when his bandmate, guitarist Ed O'Brien, said the blocking had prevented him from seeing Prince's version of their song.
"Really? He's blocked it?" asked Yorke, who figured it was their song to block or not. "Surely we should block it. Hang on a moment."
Yorke added: "Well, tell him to unblock it. It's our ... song." After word spread that Prince covered Radiohead's "Creep" at Coachella, the tens of thousands who couldn't be there ran to YouTube for... more -
Bloc voting mars Eurovision song contest
Showbusiness stars and politicians yesterday joined Sir Terry Wogan's attack on the integrity of the Eurovision song contest after Russia romped home thanks to bloc voting from its near-neighbours. Wogan is threatening not to commentate on the show again and is suggesting that a musical iron curtain may fall on the competition, with western European countries breaking away from their eastern rivals.
Arriving back at Heathrow from Belgrade, where the 53rd contest was staged, Wogan said: "You have various blocs voting. We've got nobody to vote for us.
"I think the British music industry and the BBC really have to look at this and see how they can avoid this yearly debacle. At the very beginning of the year I said Russia would win for political reasons and they did."
He said Russia had "begun to be a bit bearish again" and added: "I think the former countries of the USSR are feeling a little nervous. The voting used to be about the songs. Now it's about national prejudices. We are on our own. We had a very good song, a very good singer. We came joint last. I don't want to be presiding over another debacle." Fellow stars backed Wogan, who has been involved in what some see as an annual cringefest since the 1970s. Bruce Forsyth said: "It's not a song contest any more, it's political. It's all so biased, it's developed into a farce. I've stopped watching it." Asked about Wogan's role in the show, he said: "As long as they don't ask me to do it, I don't care." Pop svengali Simon Cowell said: "If people enjoy it as entertainment, that's great, but it's all a bit empty and meaningless as a competition."
Public relations expert Max Clifford added: "It's like having a World Cup where the results are worked out in political terms and it's got nothing to do with who scores the most goals."
The Liberal Democrat MP Richard Younger-Ross has tabled a Commons motion condemning the voting as "a joke". He said: "It is clear that the voting system is based on countries either supporting their friends or not voting for those they dislike. The BBC is one of the four main funders of the competition, and should withdraw their contribution until a time when there is a fair voting system."
The BBC was not commenting on Wogan's remarks or the calls for it to withdraw its funding yesterday. But it is very unlikely to pull the plug on the contest, after revealing that 9.3 million viewers tuned in on Saturday night - an audience share of just under 50%.
Wogan's wry commentary is a highlight of the BBC's coverage but his irony turned to barely disguised anger as eastern European, Iberian and Nordic neighbours voted for each other. The Russian entry, Dima Bilan, accompanied by a manic fiddle player and an Olympic champion figure skater who pirouetted around the stage, won comfortably.
As it became clear that the British entry, Even If, by former dustman Andy Abraham, was going to finish joint last, Wogan said: "I'm afraid nobody loves the United Kingdom ... is it funny any more?"
Later he suggested it had been common knowledge that Russia was going to win. "The word went out it was Russia's turn," said Wogan.
When Ukraine awarded Russia the maximum 12 points, Wogan commented: "Ukraine want to be absolutely sure that the electricity and the oil flows through." As Latvia did the same he said it knew which side its bread was buttered on. Over the closing titles he said it could be "goodnight western Europe".
Naturally, the Russians were delighted. The prime minister, Vladimir Putin, sent the victor a telegram, calling the win "one more important triumph for all of Russia". Showbusiness stars and politicians yesterday joined Sir Terry Wogan's attack on the integrity of the Eurovision song contest after Rus... more -
Guilty verdict in first online music piracy trial means up to five years in jail
"A 25-year-old Brooklyn man has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement in what the Recording Industry Association of America describes as the first-ever federal trial for online criminal copyright infringement primarily featuring music.
Barry Gitarts was convicted Thursday by a federal jury in Virginia, according to the U.S Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. He now faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. In addition, he must "make full restitution" to record labels.
This is no mere file sharing case, so if you share the odd file now and again, you don't need to worry about facing charges like this. Under the pseudonym "Dextro," Gitarts was charged with administering a server in Texas for an underground file sharing group called Apocalypse Production Crew.
APC members traded music, games, movies and software amongst themselves but trial testimony portrayed APC as what the RIAA termed a "first provider" or "release group" of pirated content.
According to the RIAA, evidence presented in the case showed that he received payment from the leader of the group in return for this work.
"For the first time ever, a criminal online music piracy case went to trial, and the jury rendered a swift and unanimous verdict," said Brad Buckles, executive vice president of the RIAA's anti-piracy division. "The crimes committed here -- as well as the harm to the music community -- are severe, and so are the consequences.
"We congratulate and thank the U.S. Attorney's office for its work on this case and the larger crackdown against the internet piracy rings that are responsible for leaks of pre-release music weeks and sometimes months before retail release. Groups like APC that specialize in leaking pre-release music are at the top of the piracy pyramid and the efforts of federal law enforcement have dealt a real blow to these kinds of operations."
Gitarts appears to be the 15th APC member to be convicted for criminal copyright infringement as part of U.S. Department of Justice's long-running Operation Fastlink campaign, but his is the first case that went to trial. An RIAA spokesman told Wired.com that the two new wrinkles in this case are that it went to trial and that the charges centered on music.
U.S. District Court Judge Liam O'Grady will sentence Gitarts on Aug. 8".
By Eliot Van Buskirk "A 25-year-old Brooklyn man has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement in what the Recording Indust... more -
New alternative to MP3?
A new file format that offers separate volume controls for each musical instrument, such as guitar, drum, base and voice, is being considered as a new Internet standard.
The new .MT9 file format, which a commercial title of “Music 2.0″, was selected as a candidate for consideration at a regular meeting of Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG), the international body of the digital music and video industry, held in France late April.
Ham says that the music industry should change its attitude to the market as music is becoming a digital service, rather than a physical product.
One other feature that could be popular is the lack of DRM on .MT9 files.
A new file format that offers separate volume controls for each musical instrument, such as guitar, drum, base and voice, is being con... more -
How smart bands make money when CDs don’t sell
With record sales at an all-time low, most bands have had to use evolved thinking in order to stay profitable in today’s music business climate. Groups like Paramore, the White Stripes and Spoon have all tapped into various means of doing business. With record sales at an all-time low, most bands have had to use evolved thinking in order to stay profitable in today’s music busines... more
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Mix Magazine Profiles SugarHill Sessions on Pacifica
With SugarHill sessions voted best radio show by Houston Press..I thought I would share this profile on SugarHill Studio's impressive history.
Last year, SugarHill partnered with the Pacifica Radio Network and launched The SugarHill Sessions radio show, offering a place for local music to shine. Current owner/studio manager Workman said, “With the advent of modern low-cost recording equipment, our new focus is to be the region's production company — the place you go to connect with the people who know how to make your music sound the very best it can. The music can only get better as we are liberated from being ‘the keepers of the holy machines.’ Now, we can concentrate on every aspect of our clients' musical performances.”
With SugarHill sessions voted best radio show by Houston Press..I thought I would share this profile on SugarHill Studio's impressive ... more -
Total and Utter Control
James Lavelle of Unkle on the very valuable lessons he learned when starting Mo' Wax at 18. Unkle.com
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Hidden gay life of macho hip hop stars
"A former MTV executive reveals a homosexual subculture in an aggressively male business.
American rap music is an industry ruled by machismo. It is a place where reputations are made by shady pasts, the aura of violence and ultra-masculinity. But now an explosive new book is lifting the lid on one of hip hop's most unexpected secrets: that many people in the business are gay.
Perhaps not surprisingly, many in the industry are nervous about the book's publication this week, fearing that it will expose some of the top black names in music and Hollywood as secretly gay. But Dean said that his memoir was not intended as a way of outing famous people. 'I was never tempted to name any names. The book is not about outing people. I wrote it so that people realise the industry has a gay subculture and we are part of this music,' he said.
That gay hip hop subculture certainly seems to be thriving. Dean's book describes a world where many industry executives and some artists are leading secret gay lives, which are often obvious to everyone but rarely talked about. And, despite using some false names, the book contains enough information so that it will undoubtedly spark off a frenzy of speculation as to who some of the characters are in real life.
For example, Dean describes 'Lola', a singer who is a lesbian and had to keep her sexuality secret. And 'Gus', a male rap artist who appeared on television in typical 'gangsta' style yet hid a secret gay life. Then there are the other hints of big-name celebrities close to the hip hop business who are also gay. They include 'Lucas', a married A-list movie star, and 'Kareem', a leading sitcom actor.
Dean hopes that by bringing out his book he will allow a leading hip hop figure to come out as gay and thus pave the way for the notoriously homophobic industry to come to terms with its secret side. 'Within the next year I believe a major artist will come out. They are going to have to be brave but I think they can do it,' he said".
Paul Harris in New York
Sunday May 11, 2008
The Observer "A former MTV executive reveals a homosexual subculture in an aggressively male business. ... more -
Qtrax and Universal for legal P2P music
"Qtrax, the ambitious free P2P service that took a PR beating in January when it mistakenly announced it had major-label deals in place, seems to be back on track.
The P2P service made public a legitimate deal with Universal Music Group, the world's largest major label, on Tuesday, a month after announcing publishing pacts with EMI and Sony/ATV. Qtrax also has a deal in place with Universal's publishing group, meaning the company can now legally populate its service with Universal music.
A Qtrax spokeswoman said the company will start adding Universal tracks soon. Peter Lofrumento, Universal Music Group's senior vice president of corporate communications, confirmed the new deal.
Qtrax is an ad-supported, Windows-only P2P application based on the Songbird open-source media player. While Qtrax badly fumbled its initial announcement of major label support, now that Universal has signed on, others could follow suit. If the rest of the majors come on board, Qtrax could be on its way to offering more music than iTunes does, for free.
Currently, only songs from TVT Records are available on Qtrax, said the spokeswoman, with the Beggars Banquet Records and Finetunes catalogs set to become available in the next few weeks. Universal songs should go online at Qtrax in approximately a month, she said." "Qtrax, the ambitious free P2P service that took a PR beating in January when it mistakenly announced it had major-label deals in plac... more -
Rolling Stone: Clive Davis steps down as head of BMG Music
Famed record industry figure Clive Davis will relinquish his post as CEO of the Sony BMG Music Group. Davis will reportedly take on another creative post at the label. Barry Weiss, chief of the company’s Zomba Label Group, will take over Davis’ role.
This marks a huge shift in the company. I hope Barry can keep up creating hits like Clive has been able to do and hopefully get the company back on a course of digital profitability. Famed record industry figure Clive Davis will relinquish his post as CEO of the Sony BMG Music Group. Davis will reportedly take on an... more -
Jay-Z and Live Nation Alliance as New Model for Music Sales
Jay-Z plans to depart his longtime record label, Def Jam, for a roughly $150 million package with the concert giant Live Nation that includes financing for his own entertainment venture, in addition to recordings and tours for the next decade.
Love him or hate him, he knows his business. A very very shrewd move as the music business continues its slow death march. Jay-Z plans to depart his longtime record label, Def Jam, for a roughly $150 million package with the concert giant Live Nation that i... more
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