| We've covered the music business each day since 21 Jun 2002 Today's email is edition #5332 |
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| | | In todayâs CMU Daily: Earlier this year, UK MPs said that the live music industry should launch a new levy on tickets for large-scale shows to support the grassroots community, and if it didnât the government should introduce a statutory levy. The FAC and MU wants to make sure thatâs still on the agenda
Also today: Promoters reckon they have found 50,000 tickets for next yearâs Oasis shows being touted on the resale platforms - now they plan to cancel those tickets and put them back on sale on Ticketmaster; DistroKid âpreached of doing right by their artists and their employeesâ in the past, but are now laying off 50% of their unionised workers in the US to move their jobs overseas, according to the union representing the distributorâs employees
Plus: Freak Slug is CMU Approved
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| | | Artists call for government to implement ticketing levy to support grassroots live music, but live industry still split on issue | | The Featured Artists Coalition and Musiciansâ Union have published an open letter urging the UK government to follow the recommendations of Parliamentâs culture select committee regarding introducing a ÂŁ1 ticket levy on arena and stadium concerts to support grassroots live music. In particular that ministers consider a statutory levy, and that any funding scheme should benefit artists and promoters as well as venues.
In a report in May, the select committee said that the industry should put in place a blanket levy system to support grassroots music by September this year and, if that didnât happen, that âthe government should introduce a statutory schemeâ. No such system is as yet in place.
A small number of big name artists, including Coldplay, have committed to voluntarily support grassroots venues via the Music Venue Trust. However, according to the FAC and MU - while that is to be welcomed - âa blanket levy would ensure a consistent and reliable flow of funding, and allow for a fair distribution to all relevant parties at grassroots level for the long-term futureâ.
The committee's report followed a public hearing where both artists and venues told MPs that, while the upper end of the live sector has fully bounced back following the COVID pandemic, the grassroots is in crisis. FAC CEO David Martin was among those to give evidence. Launching the new open letter, he says, âWe made it clear to MPs that any solution to the âcost of touring crisisâ facing UK grassroots music must involve the direct funding of artistsâ.
MPs agreed with that position, he adds, and âconcluded that a proposed levy on arena and stadium shows must benefit artists and independent promoters - as well as grassroots venues. However, since the publication of their report, the FAC has become increasingly concerned about the direction of travelâ... | | Read the full story | | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | đ See all current jobs at https://completemusicupdate.com/jobs | | | Horizon is CMU's weekly newsletter that brings you a hand-picked selection of early-stage career opportunities from across the music industry. Whether you're looking for your first job in music or you're ready to take a step up, Horizon is here to help you find your dream job faster.
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| | Oasis promoters take action against touts, will cancel more than 50,000 scalped tickets | | Promoters of next yearâs Oasis reunion shows in the UK have said they will cancel more than 50,000 tickets that were resold on unapproved secondary ticketing sites.
The terms and conditions of tickets to the Oasis shows prohibit resale, allowing promoters to cancel any ticket that has been touted. To that end, a spokesperson for Live Nation and SJM says that the promoters will âstart the process of cancelling tickets that are believed to have broken the terms and conditions put in place for the tour in the coming weeksâ.
The cancelled tickets will then be made available once again on Ticketmaster. In the meantime, âall parties involved with the tour continue to urge fans not to purchase tickets from unauthorised websites as some of these may be fraudulent and others subject to cancellationâ.
As the cancelations go ahead, people who bought tickets from a tout on a resale site will have to claim a refund via that resale site, and then try to secure new tickets on Ticketmaster.
Although thatâs a hassle, and the fan could miss out on a ticket entirely, if they are able to secure one through the new round of primary sales, they will likely save money compared to what they paid the tout. Especially if Ticketmaster does not apply dynamic pricing on primary ticket sales this time round, given the backlash that occurred last time...
| | Read the full story |
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| | | DistroKidâs face-off with employee union over plans to fire support team and move jobs overseas | | A union representing American employees at music distributor DistroKid has said that the company plans to lay off about 50% of its unionised staff this weekend. It follows a previous statement revealing that 37 employees had been placed on âadministrative leaveâ less than an hour before negotiations between union representatives and DistroKidâs lawyers were due to begin.
In a new update on Instagram, the union says âDistroKid plans to lay off 50% of its unionised staff on 2 Nov. This decision impacts 37 dedicated employees, including five of the seven bargaining committee members. No non-union staff have been placed on administrative leaveâ.
While there has been lots of downsizing in the music industry in the last year, the potential PR damage is higher for those companies that work directly with independent artists, and even more so when it involves going into battle with a union.
Bandcamp had a similar PR challenge when it instigated job cuts following a change in ownership last year, with the downsizing being heavily criticised by the union that represented its employees. The PR damage can also be higher if...
| | Read the full story |
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| | | đ§ Approved: Freak Slug
| | Freak Slug, the eclectic project helmed by Mancunian multi-hyphenate Xenya Genovese, mixes elements of dreamy alt-pop with a distinct 90s nostalgia, blending sweetness with just enough edge. Genoveseâs moniker itself seems to embrace her soundâs curious, offbeat charm, capturing both whimsy and bite.
Leading her debut album is the single âSpellsâ, a track that prowls with a serpentine bassline and a nervy electronic pulse. Influenced by Gorillaz, itâs a song âfor the lovers and the I-donât-knowersâ, an anthem for anyone caught between bliss and bewilderment.
In recounting the songâs genesis, Genovese explains, ââSpellsâ is a track I made with Alex from Jadu Heart and itâs the first song we ever made together on the album. We worked fast together in a hyper environment where the sun was shining through the windows and I was stealing his cigarettes smoking in the garden in excitement from making the songâ.
Her debut album, âI Blow Out Big Candlesâ, drops on 8 Nov, promising a record that feels both warmly familiar and refreshingly strange.
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