AXS announce new features

AEG's ticketing chief Bryan Perez has been revealing details of the firms new joint venture ticketing platform, AXS, which had a low key launch in the US last summer, and which is set to grow in 2012. One of the key services due to be included in AXS is a new ticket lottery system to cope with fan demand, where users will be able to pre-register for in-demand events, and tickets will be distributed on a random lottery basis. AEG hopes the lottery system (thought to be similar to that used by Glastonbury Festival) and other checks might overcome fans frustrations with crashing websites and exclude tours to a great extent. Other AXS features include the option for friends to book seats in a block even when paying with separate credit cards, and widgets that will make it easier for sponsors and other music services to sell tickets using the AXS system via their own sites. AEG's new business partner, Mark Cuban also confirmed that the new network will air recordings of concerts and other live events, and would also have a regular entertainment magazine show called AXS Live.

Touts target the boss

Tickemaster have reported what looks like a concerted attempt by touts (scalpers) to acquire Bruce Springsteen tickets for the Boss's next US tour. Tickets for a new Springsteen tour went on sale last Friday, and as the Ticketmaster site struggled to cope with demand, with many fans finding frozen screens when they tried, frustratingly tickets were appearing on re-sale sites such as StubHub (although tickets remained available through Ticketmaster). Many suspected that touts were using sophisticated computer programmes to buy tickets, and the company said "We have been experiencing highly abnormal traffic patterns on our site this morning that have impacted the fan buying experience for some customers. Early indications suggest that much of this traffic came from highly suspicious sources, implying that scalpers were using sophisticated computer programs to assault our systems and secure tickets with the sole intention of selling them in the resale market. We are investigating the source of the problem and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible, but tickets are selling so please stay patient".

Photo: Nick Cordes (c) 2009

Spotify tops 3 million

Spotify has added 500,000 new users since November after its US roll out and new partnership with Facebook - and says that one in five users now pay a subscription fee - although that means 80% still use the free ad supported service. The music streaming platform has also launched in Denmark and Austria during the same period and has begun partnerships with telcos such as Virgin.

Dipple to head up UK Music

o Dipple has today (January 27th) been confirmed as the chief executive of UK Music.
She formally replaces Feargal Sharkey, who departed the UK commercial music industry’s umbrella body in November 2011.

Speaking of the appointment, she said: “I am delighted to take on this role. The British music industry is an extraordinary cultural and economic force and I look forward to working with Government and our members to ensure its continued dominance.” Andy Heath, UK Music chairman, added: “UK Music is now established as the representative voice of the UK’s commercial music industry. That voice is now at its most important as Government looks to change the copyright framework that underpins our sector. The Board is confident that Jo will excel in the months and years ahead.”

UK Music was established in October 2008, bringing together key representative bodies from across the UK’s commercial music industry. In May 2011 the live music sector came under its umbrella with the formation of the UK Live Music Group.

More opposition to paperless tickets in the US

Ticketnews.com reports that the American Antitrust Institute (AAI) has officially joined the fight against paperless ticketing. The Washington, DC-based advocacy organization has presented the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and several state attorneys general with a 71-page white paper authored by James D. Hurwitz which spells out the AAI's position that the US government needs to sponsor an investigation into restrictive paperless tickets which restrict consumer choice and depart from "bedrock competitive market principles" particularly where added restrictions are put in place for gaining entry (eg necessitating presenting the credit card used or photo ID) or where restrictions are in place restricting or complicating gifting or re-selling tickets.

Truck back on the Road

Robin and Joe Bennett, organisers of the Truck Festival, have announced that the event will return this July under new management after the previous 2011 edition went into administration. The event will now continue with new promoters in the form of the team behind the Y-Not festival, which won the Grass Roots Festival Award at last year's UK Festival Awards. Truck 2012 will take place at Hill Farm, Steventon on 20 and 21 July.

IFPI Digital Music Report

If you are interested in what's going on in the recorded music sector - good news - the IFPI Digital Music Report for 2012 is out, highlighting that the digital music business saw unprecedented global expansion in 2011, while key steps forward were taken in several markets to help tackle digital piracy. More here (with links to the full report)http://www.the1709blog.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-digital-growth-but-is-it-good-news.html

Anti-Putin Punks Face Prison for Pissing Protest

All four members of Pussy Riot, the female Russian punk rock quartet, have been arrested after performing the track ‘Putin Has Pissed Himself’ in Red Square. They face charges and the possibility of up to 15 days in prison.

HMV wins breathing space

HMV, the struggling UK retail chain, has secured new deals with suppliers including the major record labels and a number of film companies as well as with its bankers to give it much needed breathing space. Its shares, which have collapsed 90% in the last year, rose from 4.75p to 7.15p. suppliers will take warrants for 2.5% of the groups shares. David Joseph from Universal Music emphasised the importance record labels still place on the chain of stores.

Branson face criticism for musical instruments levy

Virgin boss Richard Branson is facing criticism for charging for musical instruments to be carried on Virgin Atlantic with the Stranglers original frontman Hugh Cornwall pointing out the irony of man who made his original fortune from music now 'declaring war' on musicians. The airline says that some instruments can be taken as hand luggage and other instrument carried in the hold but the airline will charge for excess baggage. Last year RyanAir faced a boycott from musicians for charging for all musical instruments with Julian Lloyd Webber saying 'this indiscriminate victimisation of musicians has to stop'

Live Music Bill moves closer to being law

The UK music industry is celebrating after the Live Music Bill passed its third reading and report stage in the House Of Commons. The Bill, introduced by Lib Dem Peer Tim Clement-Jones and promoted in the Commons by Bath MP Don Foster, should now proceed to Royal Assent. As a result, small venues wanting to host live music events will no longer need a local authority entertainment licence – cutting bureaucracy and expense, and making it easier for pubs and clubs to host live performances. Jo Dipple, acting chief executive of UK Music, the UK commercial music industry’s umbrella body, said: “This is a great day for music. The Live Music Bill will make a real and positive difference to lives of musicians. There is no doubt that the current Licensing Act has created needless layers of bureaucracy - making it complicated and expensive for pubs and other small venues to host live gigs. The entire industry would like to thank Lord Clement-Jones and Don Foster MP who have made this change possible.”

John Smith, Musicians Union General Secretary, added: “We are delighted that the Live Music Bill has finally made it through Parliament. It is a real achievement for a Private Member’s Bill to get through and the MU would like to thank Lord Clement-Jones, Don Foster and all of the other MPs who helped to pass this Bill. “Over the past few years our members have been telling us that the number of gigs available to young musicians who are still perfecting their craft has gone down. This is primarily due to a reduction in the number of smaller venues which traditionally offered this level of gig, and is directly linked to the Licensing Act. The exemption that the Live Music Bill introduces will be hugely beneficial to these small venues.”

www.ukmusic.org

RIP Johnny Otis, Jimmy Castor and Etta James

Jimmy Castor, bandleader, percussionist and saxophonist who had a big hit with Troglodyte (Cave Man) has died aged 68. Johnny Otis, the record producer, perfpormer and hit songwriter who discovered and worked with a host of future R&B stars including Etta James, Little Richard and Jackie Wilson has died aged 90. Sadly Johnny's death was followed by news that Etta James had passed on at the age of 73. The soul star whose hits included I just Wanna Make Love to You and I'd Rather Go Blind was with her husband and two sons when she died.

Chill out

Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn has confirmed rumours that The Big Chill festival would not take place this summer, with the Olympics being blamed as a real problem as the Big Chill's August dates directly clashes with the London 2012 games. Festival Republic acquired The Big Chill in 2009 after the previously independent festival went into liquidation. Co-founder Katrina Larkin initially joined Festival Republic as a Creative Director for the event, but moved on a year later.

Mega arrests in New Zealand

Reuters report that Kim Dotcom (Kim Schmitz, a 37 year old German national), the Megaupload boss, and three other senior members of his team have been arrested by police in New Zealand and that the US Government has shut down the content sharing website. It can hardly have escaped anyone’s notice that the actions come against the background of heated debate over the proposed SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) legislation in the USA but Reuters report that a US Justice Department official said the timing of the arrests was not related to the battle inside and outside Congress. Alongside these arrests, NZ police seized several million dollars worth of assets and NZ$10 million from financial institutions. The Organised & Financial Crime Agency New Zealand said they would work with US Authorities to enable extradition proceedings to proceed. Those arrested have been remanded in custody after a court hearing in Auckland. In response hackers took down the US Justice Department's websites and the websites run by Universal Music and the websites run by music and film trade organisations the RIAA and the MPA

London 2012 ticketing woes continue

The official London 2012 ticket resale site, which went offline for a whopping 12 days after failing on its launch day, is back up and running. Initially the site simply failed to work with users reporting difficulties in uploading tickets to the exchange to sell, whilst buyers discovered at checkout that their selected tickets were no longer available. On January 17th Ticketmaster finally got the site up and running again but it now seems to be just a refund site, not the face value swap site originally planned by games organiser LOCOG. The site will now just buy back tickets at face value in the next two and a half weeks until February 3rd. Re-sale of Olympic tickets outside of the official system and windows is illegal in the UK. The London 2012 ticket sales have been beset with a number of problems, not least when tickets sales were restricted to Visa debit and credit cards only (the official credit card sponsor) and a large number of Visa cards were rejected and sales cancelled because of approaching expiry dates. In December it transpired tickets for the synchronised swimming dates had been oversold. Any returned tickets and a final batch of 1.3 million tickets will be put on sale in April and Olympic football and Paralympic tickets remain on sale until 6th February.

Fowlie to head up AudienceView

Toronto-based solutions provider AudienceView Ticketing has announced the appointment of Mark Fowlie as its president and COO. In the newly created position, Fowlie will report to company co-founder, chairperson and CEO Kevin Kimsa. Fowlie most recently served as the CEO of information management solutions company El Fresko Technologies

SOPA stalls in US

The controversial planned US ‘Stop Online Piracy Act’ (SOPA) has been put on hold in the face of fierce opposition from internet users and technology companies such as Google and Wikipedia, which ‘blacked’ itself out yesterday (18th January) in protest against the SOPA and PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act) web blocking laws.

AEG launches new platform with Seacrest and CAA

AEG will expand its AXS.com brand beyond just a ticketing portal with the launch of a new entertainment TV channel which also counts talent agency CAA and American TV and radio star Ryan Seacrest as partners. AXS TV will replace existing cable network HDNet in the US, which is owned by business mogul Mark Cuban, who is also a partner in the new broadcasting venture. It will be an entertainment network, airing mainly live lifestyle and entertainment magazine programmes. Seacrest will be an investor and advisor, though he isn't expected to appear on the network himself.

Toto Merch re-launch online service for bands

London-based direct-to-fan company Toto Merch, which has previously specialised in printing clothing and posters on demand for bands, reducing the up front investment required to offer such merchandise, has re-launched its online platform to provide a wider range of services.

Last Kiwi Big Day Out

This weekend’s Big Day Out in Auckland will be the event's last outing in New Zealand. The Kiwi leg, added to the touring festival's line-up of locations in 1994 two years after the festival franchise first launched in Sydney, is being pulled after organisers blamed financial constraints for the decision to scale the event back to just Australian dates from 2013.