MusicTank Newsletter - Jun 07

While Warner weighs up whether to bid for EMI or wait on the possibility of poaching the recordings division next year, the folks at Last.fm must be pleased as punch with the company's $280 million sale to CBS.

Although it's certainly brilliant software, it's worth noting that over the five years of Last.fm's operation, the company hasn't done a great deal in terms of licensing repertoire commercially, weaving its way through various negotiations and only recently licensing repertoire on a commercial basis from two majors.

While we don't endorse people building businesses without recompensing rightsholders, we're not simply having a dig at Last.fm. On the contrary our point is these are unprecedented times with many new businesses in development - some are bound to succeed and others to fail. During this churn, it may not always be easy to immediately differentiate between the genuine and the cowboys who have no intention of ever licensing a track.

It's in this spirit that we'd like to ask UK rightholders to support our attempts to help broker a greater understanding among neighbouring industries such as ISPs, mobile phone and blank media manufacturers, in informal discussions we are hoping to facilitate on the subject of monetising filesharing.

In our belief that this is one of the most important issues facing the recordings industry, we have scheduled an introductory think tank on the subject on the 5th July. While filesharing is admittedly a contentious issue for the UK business, we believe that open dialogue within a respectful atmosphere may help trigger a breakthough in this area. If the event is successful we plan to programme more activities to assist formal industry negotiations aimed at taking this forward.

Elsewhere in the newsletter we further tickle your worthy-radar with two other campaigns you can pin your name to, an appeal to save the Spitz, and a petition to simplify the licensing of musical money- raisers for schools, pubs and charities. But if you’re getting anxious about suffering a bout of worthy-itis, have no fear - Joe Pox is back is back to inject some well-earned cynicism into proceedings - enjoy!

Editorial by Sam Shemtob

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Scroll down for:

1. OUT & ABOUT - Forthcoming MusicTank Events

2. MUSICTANK LOUNGE - A New Report

3. JOE POX - Top Dog Tinmberlake

4. INDUSTRY DIARY - Other Events

5. MERRY-GO-ROUND - Industry Announcements

6. WISE MONKEY - Festival Review

Please remember all MusicTank events MUST be booked and paid for in advance! Become a member of MusicTank and enjoy priviledged discounts on all MusicTank events...

http://www.musictank.co.uk/about/membership-benefits

19 JUNE:  BUZZ BUILDING: PODCASTS AND VODCASTS

While words and pictures might have done the trick for your dad's old website, the modern web demands a modern approach. In 2007, that means using audio and video to add personality and panache to your message. The latest session in our series concerning practical branding and the routes to cyber-success takes on the world of sound and vision.  Jointly produced by MusicTank and sister organsation NMK in association with CIDA, those wishing to take part must register directly with CIDA:

http://www.digitalwomensclub.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=26

SPEAKERS
Keynote:  Laurence Lennard (yada yada Productions).  Panel:  Gia Milinovich (Journalist & Author), Nathalie McDermott (On Road Media), Darren Michael (The Slashed Seat Affair), Kieron Concannon (FDM Records); Facilitator:  Steven Buckley (Christian Aid).

DIARY
Date: Tues, 19 June '07;  Venue: The CC Club, Piccadilly, London, W1;  Time: 18.00 - 21.00hrs; 

Price: FREE! - BUT registration is essential!

Full Details: http://www.musictank.co.uk/events/whats-the-buzz-podcasting-and-video

05 JULY:  THE F WORD: MONETISING FILESHARING

This event brings together the leading proponents of the remuneration-for-access model with rightsholders, ISPs and other stakeholders to debate the issues and opportunities of licensing filesharing.  It will seek to generate an outline of discussion points and next steps for the industries involved, which we hope will illuminate an exciting new dawn for recorded music.  We're talking about fixing a growing disconnect between the traditional recordings industry and how increasing numbers of fans first come to sample and discover new music...a rebalancing of the relationship between the business and the fan...and accepting the notion that the business can no longer control distribution and then attempting building a model around that. This will require a cooperative, inclusive approach across the digital music value chain – involving not just rightsholders and their representatives but ISPs, mobile phone companies, and MP3 and blank media manufacturers...

SPEAKERS
Keynote:  Fred Bolza (MCPS-PRS Alliance).  Panel:  Paul Hitchman (Playlouder MSP); others tbc.  Moderator:  Keith Harris (Keith Harris Music Ltd/MusicTank Chairman/PPL Director).

DIARY
Date:  Thurs 05 July '07;  Venue: Bertorelli, Soho, London;  Time:  18.30 - 21.00hrs;

Price: £20 MusicTank Members | £25 Trade Body Discount | £30 Full Price (See website for full details)

Full Details:  http://www.musictank.co.uk/events/the-f-word-monetising-filesharing-an-industry-solution

CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK - GLOBAL FORUM

Earlier this year, MusicTank was fortunate enough to be asked to assist with moderating round table discussions taking place at Canadian Music Week, March 2007. This ambitious and successful forum witnessed a select group of 120 participants from the global music industry brainstorm, debate and present fresh thinking on two issues of critical importance to theglobal music industry:

• Fair Use And The Global Marketplace 
• Monetising Tomorrow's Digital Reality

Participants were divided into 15 roundtables, each facilitated by a leading thinker from academia, a research institution, a policy think tank or a related organization. Each table had approximately one hour to discuss Fair Use, after which participants were shifted to a different table for discussions on Monetization. Scribes were present at each table to note key areas of debate.

Participants completed two surveys, one at the conclusion of Fair Use and one at the conclusion of Monetisation.

The Global Forum Report - the resulting report based on notes from the round table sessions and surveys - is now freely available on the MusicTank website:

The report was compiled and written by Richard Cavanagh (Connectus Consulting Inc - a leading Canadian music industry analyst and researcher).

http://www.musictank.co.uk/reports/canadian-music-week-global-forum-2007

You know when you've arrived as an artist when you get given your own label imprint. Usually it's a 'deal clencher' for a mega act when they are re-signing their contract or negotiating a new one (see Morrissey and Attack/Sanctuary).

Shaved-headed, electro-sex prancer Justin Timberlake - when not hawking cheap burgers and bringing 'sexy' back - has done it slightly differently. While signed to Sony BMG, his new label (Tennman) is actually being run via Interscope/Universal. Oh.

Timberlake's also been named as CEO and chairman of the label. Brilliant. But what does it mean in practice? Will he be there every day dotting the 'i's and crossing the 't's on heads of agreements on digital distribution and getting his head round the opportunities and risks of UGC and ad-funding? Or will it merely be a vanity label for him and his 'crew' to punt out their over-indulgent musical back- slapping that no one else will touch? What we're all waiting for is a 25-minute 'jam' featuring Justin yelping and squawking his way through music that sounds like it was written by half a dog.

4-8 JUNE: CITY SHOWCASE

City Showcase, London's leading festival for new music and fashion, has announced this year's timetable of FREE industry workshops.

Sessions will offer advice on topics like A&R , copyright , production , PR and marketing . There will also be two days of seminars exploring The Impact of The New Technology, a day of song-writing masterclasses and an international day looking at the commercial realities of the international music industry. There will be advice from the top movers and shakers in the music industry, including: Ellis Rich (Chairman PRS/ Chairman Independent Music Group); Nihal (Radio 1 and BBC Asian Network DJ); Remi Harris (AIM); Stuart Clarke (A&R Editor Music Week); Paul Hutton (Metropolis Music); John Pandit (Asian Dub Foundation);  Matthew Strachan (composer/songwriter); Martin Brammer (hit writer)

http://www.cityshowcase.co.uk

13 JUNE: NMK FORUM 07

Want to really get under the skin of digital innovation? Want to know what world-class players are thinking and doing about Web 2.0?

NMK Forum 07 will help you get under the skin of digital innovation and give you an unrivalled opportunity to hear leading industry figures talk about the future of the digital landscape. Delegates will also be able to participate in the debate about the digital industry’s future on stage, online, on mobile and offline.

This one-day conference will bring together some of the foremost thinkers and experts from both the UK and across the globe to discuss and debate the new wave of innovation sweeping the digital media industry. NMK Forum 07 aims to cut through the hype of new media and create a forum to discuss the latest trends, predictions and strategies for the digital sector.

The event will also address how businesses can actually start using and benefiting from the boom in social networking and user generated content as consumers and users start to "talk back" in ever growing numbers. Agencies and new media producers are now grappling on a daily basis with the issue of what this means to their business model. Add to this the almost daily launch of new technology startups and the increasing incorporation of Web 2.0 tools and services into large media businesses and it becomes clear there has never been a more important time to attend this event.

NMK Forum 07 will examine in detail the impact of these new trends and innovations on the media, marketing and advertising industries, and work out exactly where the role for professional new media creatives and entrepreneurs lies in the new digital landscape. It is a must-attend event providing delegates with unprecedented access to key players from the global digital industry.

SPEAKERS incl. Jason Calacanis (Mahalo.com), Dan Gillmor (Center for Citizen Media), Jyri Engeström (Jaiku.com), Nic Brisbourne (Esprit Capital Partners), Helen Keegan (Bleep Marketing), Jim Purbrick (Second Life), Paul Pod (Tioti.com), Tom Bureau (CNET Networks), Meg Pickard (The Guardian) and many more.

http://nmkforum.co.uk/

27 JUNE: CROSS-MEDIA SUMMIT FOR CONTENT DISCOVERY

...The Strategy, Technology and Business Case for Content Description, Visibility, Search and Discovery...

This Summit will bring together business strategy and technical know- how from all media industry sectors to work through the issues, innovate and answer the question:

"The Universal Catalogue - Is There A Will To Build It?"

How do content owners increase the visibility and discovery of their content? Do we need more metadata standards for cross-media description? What's wrong with ones we already have? Does more effort need to be made to implement those that already exist? Should standards groups build more end-user tools? What are the drivers for industry adoption? Can we make the tools simpler and easier to use? What are the requirements of end-users in the media industry?

Tools enabling metadata aggregation, searching and publishing could be vastly improved. The lack of support and interoperability is having a profound impact on the ability of all media industry sectors to monetise their products.

Bringing together key cross-industry strategists and technologists from standards, search, image, music and film companies shaping the digital media marketplace. Aiming to share experiences, discover synergy and innovate. Identifying areas for further investigation to drive adoption of metadata syndication ecosystems that enable content owners to increase visibility of their content.

The day will feature short, sharp business strategy and technology briefings from many experts. Participants will benefit from the experiences of their counterparts in other arts and media sectors.

http://www.kendra.org.uk/

Kendra Initiative is a media and technology, academic and industry alliance of over 500 participants in 40+ countries, that aims to foster an open distributed marketplace for digital media (including films, music, images, games and text). The initiative researches, recommends and develops enhancements to the digital media marketplace that will facilitate interoperability and revenue generation for content owners and service providers. The cross-industry group is currently investigating content description, delivery, visibility, search and discovery.

3 & 4 JULY: MPA INDUCTION COURSE

The MPA will be holding a total of four induction courses this year. This one and a half day course is designed to provide an essential overview of the music publishing industry, its organisations and their roles and is delivered by a range of speakers drawn from the MPA, member publishers, MCPS, PRS and British Music Rights.

The next course will be held in the MPA Boardroom on Tuesday 3rd & Wednesday 4th July 2007 (9.30am - 12.45pm).

http://www.mpaonline.org.uk/Events/MPA_Induction_Course_for_Newcomers_to_Music_Publishing.html

RENOWNED LIVE MUSIC VENUE - THE SPITZ - FACES CLOSURE...

Popular London music venue The Spitz has been given six months notice to quit its current home in East London's Old Spitalfields Market by landlord Ballymore Properties.

Confirming recent speculation as to the future of the venue yesterday, the venue's management announced it was launching a "Save The Spitz" campaign, and is encouraging fans of the venue to do what they can in a bid to persuade their landlord to reverse their decision.

Now in its twelfth year The Spitz has established an internationally recognised reputation as London's leading independent non-mainstream music venue (and a gallery that specialises in socially aware photo journalism).

Ironically, it has just announced its strongest-ever music programme with the current sell out 'Spitz Festival of Blues' and two more festivals planned for August, one Country, the other, Folk.

The Spitz needs your help! Up until the end of September the most immediate way to offer support is by using it as much as possible - whether you book a table in the restaurant for lunch or hold a party in the gallery, or go and see a gig.

Anyone who thinks they can offer specific help to the Save The Spitz cause should contact Rupert.

The venue has also launched an online petition...

http://www.spitz.co.uk

PETITION THE UK GOVERNMENT - NEW UK LEGISLATION SAYS "NO MUSIC FOR CHARITY"

There is a government move to make it very difficult for musicians to perform live in small venues, or for schools, pubs and charities to raise money for causes through musical events. The new legislation will inhibit the central role music making has in our lives and communities.

If you circulate this to your musician (and non-musician!) friends, all each person has to do is go to the government's petitions website below, give your name, e-mail and postal address - it takes about 30 seconds.

It could make a vital difference to the nurturing of community music making, thus enabling young musicians to find their feet in the performing world.

The live music/licensing e-petition now has nearly 5,700 signatures and currently stands at no.19 in the list of 1,702 petitions on the Number 10 website. There are five more months in which people can sign. But the petition needs to do much better to make an impression on ministers, and to encourage DCMS to implement music-friendly amendments.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensing/

BRIGHTON GREAT ESCAPE

So many bands, and such a good place to see them!  Sun sea and good music came together very well for The 2nd Great Escape.  Impressive performances included Ghosts, Art Brut, These New Puritans, Florence & the Machine, ZZZ, and Icelandic Benni Hemm.  The place was brimming with music - you could hardly hit the pier without tripping over some band's PA.

We missed most of the panels, though we heard that Barney Wragg’s Friday keynote was very good. The one we did attend, AIM'S UK/US Access To Radio discussion, was excellent and full of gems for labels keen to tighten up their plugging efforts.

The stories you may have heard about the queues were correct (though we're not sure whether much can be done on this front – it was the same for the Camden Crawl some weeks before), and they seemed to worsen on the Saturday night.

It was also a real shame that the much-touted Bonde Ro Role couldn't play their Komedia (yes it does sound like an STD) gig due to a technical fault. British Sea Power put in an awesome, emotional performance – though you had to get away from the rows of passive punters and into the front to really appreciate the show.

Brighton, which has its own burgeoning music scene, must be the perfect place for such a festival. After TGE ended, there were still plenty of Brighton's own music nights to enjoy, which if anything, was all the more impressive. We look forward to next year...

If you have any queries regarding any of our events or activities, please call Jonathan on 020 7915 5412, or e-mail: info@musictank.co.uk

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily condoned or shared by MusicTank. MusicTank is a non-profit organisation owned and operated by University of Westminster. University of Westminster is a charity and a company limited by guarantee. Reg Number: 977818, England. Registered Office: 309 Regent Street, London, W1. MusicTank is based at University of Westminster, Fifth Floor, Copland Building, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW.