Islington Assembly Hall // Assistant Bars and Duty Manager (London)

Wienerworld // Social Media and Marketing Assistant (London/Hybrid)

FEAT // Junior Policy Officer/Industry Liaison (Remote/London)

Ninja Tune // Marketing Assistant (London/Hybrid)

Erased Tapes Records // Label & Production Manager (London)

ICE Licensing // Senior DSP Audit & Assurance Manager (London)

ICE Licensing // DSP Audit and Assurance Manager (London)

Today's music business news

TOP STORY

Live and night-time sectors welcome new Arts Council funding for grassroots music community

Arts Council England has formally launched its new Supporting Grassroots Music fund, which will make £5 million in funding available to support grassroots music initiatives.

The UK government previously announced that the cash was being made available when it set out its Creative Industries Sector Vision back in June. The new funding scheme is basically an evolution of the previous Supporting Grassroots Live Music programme. Although, alongside grassroots clubs, venues and promoters, this scheme will also be open to rehearsal and recording studios and festivals.

Those running venues, shows and other businesses at the grassroots of the music industry - who provide crucial support for new music talent - often operate on the tightest of profit margins. The fallout of COVID alongside surging energy prices and the cost of living crisis have all made things even more challenging in that part of the wider music sector.

Announcing the new funding scheme, Arts Council England CEO Darren Henley says: "This investment by the UK government and Arts Council England reaffirms our commitment to supporting this hugely important part of the music industry".

"People value the opportunity to develop and express their creativity", he goes on, "both on their own and with others, and the grassroots music sector excels at giving communities the chance to design and develop creative and cultural activity where they live. We hope this new funding will continue to both address the needs of the sector and empower it to carry on offering high quality live music experiences for audiences across the country".

Welcoming the new funding, the CEO of live music trade group LIVE, Jon Collins, adds: "Like any ecosystem, the UK’s world class live music sector is dependent upon its grassroots for the development of the next generation of on and off stage talent".

"We welcome this latest round of support and the opportunities it will unlock for grassroots music venues, festivals and promoters", he continues. "No doubt, like the equivalent support for international touring, it will deliver back many times over, bolstering domestic touring, driving additional activity into local economies and delivering joy to millions".

The Night Time Industries Association has also welcomed the new scheme, in particular noting that "in a departure from convention, the fund explicitly embraces participation from the electronic music and club scene, acknowledging their crucial contributions to the cultural and artistic tapestry. This forward-thinking approach ensures that the fund remains relevant to the evolving landscape of music creation and performance".

Its CEO Michael Kill adds: "By giving due consideration to rehearsal spaces and recording studios - integral components of the grassroots ecosystem - the fund recognises the interconnected web of elements that sustain and nurture the grassroots music community".

ONE LINERS

The Smile, Ty Dolla $ign, Mariah Carey + more

APPOINTMENTS

Universal Music UK has appointed Andrea Pattico as Chief People Officer. “Music has always been a personal passion of mine whether performing, running live events or, of course, listening to great artists”, she says. “Combining that passion with my personal purpose of making individuals, teams and culture better is a dream come true. I’m really excited for the future and can’t wait to get started”.

Live Nation-owned livestreaming platform Veeps has hired Bart Coleman as Head Of Comedy. He joins from Moment and previously worked at Spotify. “People around the world love to laugh, even if they’re not able to attend their favourite shows in person as much as they’d like to”, he says. “I’m honoured to be playing a role in bringing the comedic performances we all love direct to fans in their homes”.

DIGITAL

Google is in talks to invest in AI chatbot company Character.AI, according to Reuters. The platform allows users to chat with virtual versions of celebrities, such as Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.

Deezer has added a new feature called Shaker, which allows users to share music with friends using other streaming services. “Shaker is designed to create a feeling of connection, encourage people to experience music more freely, erase the boundaries between friends, and create a space where you can discover new songs to fall in love with”, says Alexandra Leloup, VP Product at Deezer. “To achieve this, it was key to not only include tailored playlists based on the musical tastes of users and their friends, but to make sure everyone can join in no matter which streaming platform they use”.

Music creation platform BandLab has expanded its existing partnership with FUGA to offer worldwide digital distribution to its paying subscribers. "The success of BandLab users powering the charts continues to amaze us, and finally launching digital music distribution fully to our BandLab community represents a significant step towards fulfilling our mission to streamline the artistic path and empower creators at every stage of their journey", says BandLab boss Meng Kuok.

ARTIST NEWS

Ty Dolla $ign has said that his collaborative album with Kanye West is still in the works, days after a “multi-stadium listening event” was reportedly cancelled. “I just landed on a flight from Saudi Arabia”, he told the audience at a recent show. “I’ve been out there recording a part of my album with my brother Ye and that’s coming real soon”.

‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ by Mariah Carey and ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham both entered the UK Top 40 this week as people start streaming festive songs once again. Last year they didn't make the singles chart until the third week of November. Both tracks entered Spotify's UK Daily Top Songs Chart on 1 Nov last year, with Wham going in at position 54 with 98,792 streams and Mariah taking 41 with 125,933 streams. A year on, they both hit the same Spotify chart on the same day - 1 Nov - with Wham going in at 24 with 150,401 streams and Mariah at 19 with 170,316 streams. So, basically, more people are listening to more Christmas music earlier this year. Please stop it.

RELEASES

The Smile have announced that they will release their new album ‘Wall Of Eyes’ on 26 Jan. The title track is out now. They’ve also announced UK tour dates, including a show at London’s Alexandra Palace on 23 Mar.

Jane Weaver has released new single ‘Love In Constant Spectacle’. She's also announced UK and Ireland tour dates in April and May next year, including a performance at the Scala in London on 2 May.

DIGITAL

Media Bill pushes smart speaker platforms to provide "unfettered access" to traditional radio

The UK government last week formally introduced its Media Bill in Parliament. It seeks to update the regulation of both public service broadcasting and commercial radio; to give media regulator OfCom new powers to draft and enforce a video-on-demand code; and also includes measures to "protect UK radio’s availability on connected audio devices".

The latter move has been particularly welcomed by the commercial radio industry. Its trade body Radiocentre last week explained that, under the new laws, smart speaker platforms will be obliged to "provide unfettered access - without charging - to radio stations licensed by OfCom".

Not only that, but "a listener’s station of choice must be reliably provided in response to a voice command", and broadcasters will be able to "request a default route for their stations to be delivered to listeners on smart speakers". So radio firm Global can insist on delivery via its Global Player, the BBC via BBC Sounds, and so on.

The smart speaker platforms will also be prevented from overlaying their own content, such as advertising, on top of radio services that they deliver.

Welcoming the introduction of the bill into Parliament, Radiocentre said last week that it "will continue to work with all parties as the bill progresses through the House Of Commons and House Of Lords. The parliamentary process does not have a set timetable, but it is unlikely that the Media Bill will receive royal assent - and become law - before early summer 2024".

The trade body's CEO, Matt Payton, added: "Political consensus for the measures that support the UK radio industry is strong, reflecting the important public value delivered by broadcasters to millions of listeners every day. The extent of this support also recognises that as technology develops it is important that legislation keeps pace. We will continue to work with MPs and peers as this vital bill makes its way through Parliament".

SETLIST PODCAST

Competition law concerns over Spotify’s royalty plans

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week.

On this edition, competition law expert (as well as musician and label owner) Amelia Fletcher's letter to Spotify boss Daniel Ek about the streaming service's plan for a two-tier royalty system, and the rickrolling takedown battle between two stream-ripping platforms.

LEGAL

Drake sits for Astroworld deposition

Drake last week sat for a deposition with lawyers working on the Astroworld litigation, according to sources who have spoken to Rolling Stone.

Little is known about the deposition because of a wide-ranging gagging order that covers all the lawsuits that were filed in the wake of the 2021 Astroworld tragedy. Drake joined Astroworld founder Travis Scott on stage towards the end of his headline set at the November 2021 festival. It was during that set that ten people died and hundreds more were injured in a crowd surge.

That guest spot meant that Drake was named as a defendant in some of the hundreds of lawsuits that were filed following the tragedy. In subsequent legal filings, he has stressed that he had no involvement in or knowledge of the organisation of the ill-fated festival. During last week's deposition he would have answered questions under oath, presumably about what he saw and heard as he waited to go on stage for his guest spot during Scott's set.

Scott previously sat for a deposition in September and, reportedly, again in October. It was around the time of the first deposition that it emerged that lawyers working on the litigation were struggling to get access to Scott's electronic communications from before and after the festival.

That was partly because the musician lost his mobile phone in January 2022 when it fell off a boat in the Gulf Of Mexico and he hadn't backed anything up to the cloud because of "hacking concerns". Although Scott's lawyers subsequently said that messages between him and his manager David Stromberg stored on the latter's phone should cover most if not all of the relevant conversations.

Hundreds of lawsuits were filed following Astroworld 2021, including by the families of those who died. Some of the latter have since settled their litigation, but most of the lawsuits continue to go through the motions. A grand jury, meanwhile, concluded that there were no grounds for pursuing criminal proceedings in relation to the tragedy.

LABELS & PUBLISHERS

beatBread now offers financing to songwriters secured on their publishing

Music funding platform beatBread last week announced that it is now offering to advance money to songwriters recoupable against future income generated by their song rights. It expands the beatBread offering which to date has been targeted at artists and labels, with money advanced on future recording income.

The company said that it will offer advances of up to $3 million to songwriters depending on the value of their publishing. That can be secured entirely on existing songs, or a combination of new and existing works. Writers "will be able to customise their advance terms by adjusting the scope, term length and revenue shares to tailor funding agreements to their needs".

Says beatBread Founder and CEO Peter Sinclair: "We are excited to continue to expand the choices available to artists, writers and their partners on our platform. We believe creatives should have more access, more choice, more transparency and more leverage than industry incumbents have traditionally offered. Creative empowerment is our north star and, with this new initiative, we are one step closer to our goal of creating a more open and creator-friendly music industry".

The firm's new songwriter division will be led by Spencer LeBoff, previously with BMG, who takes on the newly created role of General Manager Of Publishing.

LIVE

Rick Astley to play BBC One’s New Year concert

Rick Astley will perform this year’s New Year’s Eve gig on BBC One from the Roundhouse in London, it has been announced.

“What an honour it is to host the New Year's Eve celebration on BBC One this year”, says Astley. “It's always been part of my New Year's ritual to watch the show and take in the amazing fireworks, so to be part of it this year is fantastic! Here's to a great night”.

Jonathan Rothery, Head Of BBC Pop Music TV, adds: “Our annual New Year’s Eve performances on BBC One are about bringing some of the biggest names in music to people’s homes, wherever they are in the UK”.

Noting the artists who have appeared in recent years, including Sam Ryder, Olly Alexander, Kylie, Pet Shop Boys and Alicia Keys, he goes on: “I’m so pleased to be able to announce that Rick Astley - who has had a fantastic 2023 so far - will be soundtracking the celebrations this year. It’s a brilliant way to round off another fantastic year of live performances on the BBC”.

Meanwhile, Executive Producer For Entertainment And Music at BBC Studios, Alison Howe, comments: “After working with Rick and his team at Glastonbury, we are THRILLED to be joining forces again. Who better to see us into the new year from another iconic venue, the atmosphere is sure to be electric”.

Astley, of course, got plenty of attention for his spots at Glastonbury this year, including a stint opening the Pyramid Stage proceedings on the Saturday and a set with Blossoms singing Smiths songs.

Further details about the NYE concert, including the special guests set to join Astley on stage, will be announced in the coming weeks.

MEDIA

Bauer switching off more AM transmitters, mainly impacting Greatest Hits Radio

Bauer Media is set to switch off another bunch of AM transmitters, most of which currently broadcast its Greatest Hits Radio service.

Both of the big UK commercial audio companies - Bauer and Global - as well as the BBC have been slowly reducing the number of AM transmitters that they operate, taking stations off good old fashioned medium wave.

According to Radio Today, AM broadcasts of GHR in Scotland and parts of North England are currently airing hourly messages telling listeners that they will need to retune in order to continue listening to the station. The AM transmissions are set to cease at the end of the year.

The move affects GHR services in Yorkshire and the North East - where local stations became part of the GHR network when it launched in 2019 - and also Scotland - where local AM stations only rebranded as GHR earlier this year.

In some of the affected regions GHR is also available on FM, while in other places listeners will need to switch to the DAB digital radio network.

Bauer is also switching off the AM transmitter used by its Downtown Radio service in Belfast.

AND FINALLY

“Fair, transparent and accurate” Grammy nominations announced

The Grammy Awards nominations have been announced. For all 94 categories. Ninety Four! It’s just too many, isn’t it? And there are only four that anyone really talks about, so I don’t know why they bother with the other 90, really. Seems like a lot of effort.

This year there are three new categories too. They are Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording. Their addition, says the CEO of Grammys organiser the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr, will make the awards "more fair, transparent and accurate”. So that’s good. Probably.

Anyway, I’m not about to list the nominees for all 94 categories - you can view them all here if you really want to - but just in case you were wondering, Flamy Grant wasn’t shortlisted for Best Pop Vocal Album.

The ceremony itself will take place on 4 Feb 2024 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Now, here are the nominees for what I think we can all agree are the big and truly important prizes that will be presented on the night:

Record Of The Year
Jon Batiste - Worship
boygenius - Not Strong Enough
Miley Cyrus - Flowers
Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For?
Victoria Monét- On My Mama
Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire

Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero
SZA - Kill Bill

Album Of The Year
Jon Batiste - World Music Radio
boygenius - The Record
Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation
Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Janelle Monáe - The Age Of Pleasure
Olivia Rodrigo - Guts
Taylor Swift - Midnights
SZA - SOS

Song Of The Year
Lana Del Rey - A&W (Jack Antonoff, Lana Del Rey & Sam Dew)
Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero (Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift)
Jon Batiste - Butterfly (Jon Batiste & Dan Wilson)
Dua Lipa - Dance The Night (Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt)
Miley Cyrus - Flowers (Miley Cyrus, Gregory Aldae Hein & Michael Pollack) SZA - Kill Bill (Rob Bisel, Carter Lang & Solána Rowe)
Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire (Daniel Nigro & Olivia Rodrigo)
Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For? (Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell)

Best New Artist
Gracie Abrams
Fred Again…
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Coco Jones
Noah Kahan
Victoria Monét
The War And Treaty

Best New Age, Ambient Or Chant Album
Kirsten Agresta-Copely - Aquamarine

Omar Akram - Moments Of Beauty

Ólafur Arnalds - Some Kind Of Peace (Piano Reworks)

David Darling & Hans Christian - Ocean Dreaming Ocean

Carla Patullo Featuring Tonality And The Scorchio Quartet - So She Howls