Adele set to smash sales records with 25

Adele’s '25' is currently on course to smash records on both sides of the Atlantic - the star’s third album sold approximately 1.9m copies in its first two days on sale in the US and is on target to sell 2.5 million this week (topping NSYNCH's previous record of 2.42 million sales for 'No Strings Attached') and dwarfing the entire first week sales of Taylor Swift’s 1989 last year (1.3m). The 1.9m figure covers just Friday (November 20) and Saturday (November 21), with more than 60% of sales coming on digital download services. In the UK, Official Charts Company data shows that '25' went platinum in a single day – that’s 300,000 sales and sales of the LP are expected to surpass 700,000 sales in the UK by the end of this week. It’s a similar story the world over: 25 was the No.1 album in 106 of iTunes’ 119 territories last night. Whilst the album is not available on freemium streaming services, MBW reports that piracy seems surprisingly low. 

UPDATE

25 broke through the 3m sales barrier in the US yesterday (Wednesday, November 25), according to hot-off-the-presses data from reliable retail monitor BuzzAngle.

BUMA deadlock until December

The royalty tariff for live concerts in the Netherlands for venues and promoters has still not been set, and BUMA Stemra's Supervisory Board has given the collection society more time to draw up a new proposal for the live industry for the rate payable for the use of songs at live events. The rate is currently 7% of gross ticket revenues - but more recently artistes discovered BUMA was rebating up to 25% to some promoters.

Live Nation posts Q3 profit

Live Nation Entertainment  have surprised the market by announcing a Q3 2015 profit. Revenues were up 10% to $2.62 billion and the compay had a net $89 million profit. Concert revenues were up 9% and attendance up 10%, driving growth in advertising and ticketing revenues. Ticketmaster reported a 22% increase in secondary ticketing activities with overall ticketing activities up 18%.

TPi 2016 Nominees announced

Your votes have been counted - and here's the shortlist of nominations for the TPi Awards 2016.

1. The Dennis Sheehan Tour Manager of The Year Award
Jake Ryan
Dick Meredith
Glen Rowe
Ian Quinn
Tom Sheals-Barrett

2. Production Manager of The Year
Ceri Wade
Dick Tee
Sue 'Duchess' Iredale
Joel Stanley
Bob O'Brien

3. Favourite Crew Company
Stage Miracles
Rock City Crew
Gallowglass
Crewsaders
Mad Crew
Showforce

4. Favourite Rigging Company
UK Rigging
Unusual Rigging
PRG XL Video
Cirque du Soleil
Blackout
Star Events

5. Rigger of The Year
Pete The Greek
Jamie Moore
Oz Marsh
Sven Knight
Michael 'Pickle' Ellison

6. Favourite Sound Rental Company
Adlib Audio
Britannia Row Productions
Clair Global
SSE Audio Group
Capital Sound
Wigwam Acoustics

7. Front of House Engineer of The Year
Paul Cooper
Marc Carolan
Andy Magee
Rob Sadler
Gary Bradshaw

8. Monitor Engineer of The Year
Darren Dunphy
Amanda Thompson
Jack Bowcher
Mikey Gibbard
Jac Nott

9. Favourite Power Supply Company
Aggreko
Firefly
Power Logistics
Buffalo
Fourth Generation
Pearce Hire

10. Favourite Rehearsal Facility
LH2
LS-Live
Music Bank
Rock Lititz
John Henry's
Millenium Studios

11. Favourite Venue
02 Arena, London
02 Academy, Brixton
Roundhouse, Camden
Royal Albert Hall, London
Croke Park, Dublin
SSE Arena, Wembley

12. Favourite Lighting Rental Company
Neg Earth
PRG XL Video
Colour Sound Experiment
Nitelites
Adlib Lighting
GLS Lighting

13. Lighting Designer of The Year
Maty Killmurry
Oli Metcalfe
Ed Warren
Tim Routledge
Rob Sinclair

14. Favourite Special Effects Company
BPM SFX
Pyrojunkies
Le Maitre
Event FX
Strictly FX
ER Productions

15. Favourite Staging Company
StageCo.
Tait Towers
All Access Staging & Productions
Star Events
Serious Stages
Acorn Event Structures

16. Set Designer of The Year
Oli Metcalfe
Willie Williams
Misty Buckley
Emma Bull
Paul Normandale

17. Favourite Set Construction Company
Tait Towers
Steel Monkey
All Access Staging & Productions
Brilliant Stages
LS-Live
Total Fabrications

18. Favourite Security / Crowd Management Company
Showsec
Show & Event
G4S
Green Event Security
SB Security Solutions
Corvus Security

19. Favourite Trucking Company
Fly By Nite
Stage Truck
Brian Yeardley Continental
Conference Haul International
Upstaging
KB Event

20. Favourite Bussing Company
Beat The Street
Phoenix Bussing
Vans For Bands
Jumbocruiser
Crossland
Galaxy Cruiser

21. Favourite Freight Company
Rock-it Cargo
Sound Moves
Global Motion
Horizon Entertainment Cargo
EFM
Dave Forest Transport

22. Favourite Travel Company
The Appointment Group Global Touring
The Tour Company
Infinity Travel
Tour Travel
Road Rebel
Rima Travel

23. Stage Manager of The Year
Mike Grove
Phil Murphy
Deb Jones
David Peverley
Danny Spratt

24. Favourite Video Rental Company
PRG XL Video
Creative Technology
VER
Video Illusions
Satis & Fy
Solotech

25. The Des Fallon Video Visionary Award
Oli Metcalfe
Willie Williams
Nick Whiteoak
Steve Price
Chris Saunders

26. Live Production of The Year Award
Arcadia Metamorposis - Bristol
Ed Sheeran - X
AC/DC - Rock or Bust
The Script - Live at Croke Park
Take That - Live 2015
U2 - Innocence + Experience

sillerman withdraws latest SFX offer

Robert FX Sillerman has withdrawn his latest offer to acquire all of the shares in SFX he doesn’t currently control, according to a filing made with the US Securities And Exchange Commission this week. His initial (and incresaed) offer of $5.25 a share was rejected, but after the EDM promoters share price dived, he returned with a new $3.25 per share offer. SFX’s share price hit an all-time low of 41 cents as news of Sillerman’s latest announcement started to circulate last night.

More on CMU here

UPDATE 20.11.15

The SFX share price has now crashed another 41% to 24 cents and Hypebot.com
reporteds"Several industry insiders familiar with the workings of SFX said that a bankruptcy filing was all but inevitable.  The company's board had reported that they had had inquires to purchase portions of the EDM conglomerate, but now even those would likely have to happen at fire sale prices.

THE REVOLVING DOOR

Vevo, the music video website founded by Universal and Sony, has appointed former BBC Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt as its head of content and programming. However, Vevo is reorganizing its product and engineering department, starting at the top. A spokesperson has confirmed that head of products David Rice is no longer with the company and that a "small number" of employees in the p&e organizations have been let go. The team now reports to interim CTO, Alex Nunes.

WayneLeading US-based CAA agent Cara Lewis has reportedly left the company. Lewis joined the firm from WME in 2012, represents artists including Eminem and Pitbull. She previously represented Kanye West before the rapper defected to UTA earlier this year. 

Its all change at End Of The Road Festival with Lauren Down, who was festival manager, now promoted to managing director after just one year with the event. Rosanna Dean has also been promoted to operations manager, while Anna Mears, previously of Inside/Out, has joined as head of communications. 

Sixth Media, the international live-focused music company that was newly formed earlier this year by former co-founder and CEO of MAMA Group Dean James, has acquired a strategic stake in Big New Year LLP, the parent company of leading London arts and music venues Oval Space and The Pickle Factory.

Mike Batt has decided to step down as Deputy Chairman of the BPI – a role he has held for nine years having served on the BPI Council for 10 years in total since joining in September 2005 as an independent label representative. 

R. Halper, a music industry veteran and member of the Nashville recording and arts community, has joined Cole Law Group as senior attorney and head of the firm’s Entertainment Law Practice Group.

London-based media and entertainment law firm Lee & Thompson LLP has merged with the specialist media and entertainment litigation business, Forbes Anderson Free.

Mash Media has announced that Emma Hudson has been promoted to the role of editor of Access All Areas. 

Apple is hiring a person to help create "original content and live projects" for several of its online services, including Apple Music, iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store, according to a job listing discovered by AppleInsider.

Universal Music Group (UMG) has hired Eric Berman as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, effective immediately. He is known as an advisor to Bill Clinton.

Universal Music Publishing Group has appointed Luke McGrellis to the position of Vice President Creative reporting to Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman and CEO, and Evan Lamberg, UMPG President – North America. McGrellis joins UMPG from Sony/ATV UK where he was A&R Director.


Max Hole is stepping down from his role as Chairman and Chief Executive of Universal Music Group International (UMGI), effective immediately. In January, Hole contracted encephalitis, as a result of which he has suffered some memory loss. While he is said to be making progress towards a recovery, a full resumption of his responsibilities is not possible at this time, said UMG.

Michael Nash, who has been acting as an adviser to the top tier of UMG rival Warner since June, joins Universal as EVP of Digital Strategy from November 2. And  Andrew Kronfeld, previously global marketing within Universal Music International, becomes VP Marketing for the whole group. UMG CEO Lucian Grainge said that that recent changes to Universal’s Executive Management Board, and the addition of Nash as EVP of Digital Strategy, represented “a bold new approach to a business that is both singularly global and regionally nuanced”.

Former Three Six Zero business affairs executive James Sealey is joining direct-to-fan start-up Bkstg as VP Business Development.

Haim have signed to booking agency WME for worldwide representation.

Ticketmaster UK has appointed PlayStation Music's Matt Webster as its new head of marketing operations. 

Industry trade magazine Music Week has announced a new editor in the form of veteran music journalist Mark Sutherland, who became Contributing Editor for the title at the start of the year.

Songs Music Publishing has appointed David Gold to the newly-created position of Head of Business & Legal Affairs in its New York HQ.

Jane Dyball has been confirmed as CEO at the UK's Music Publishers Association on a permanent basis.

Spirit Music Group has appointed Rak Sanghvi as Managing Director of UK/International, Spirit B-Unique in London. Sanghvi served as Managing Director of Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) from 2005 – 2012.

Eclectic music magazine The Wire,  has a new editor in the form of Derek Walmsley. The appointment comes as part of a number of editorial changes at the publication, Joseph Stannard and Emily Bick both become Deputy Editors, the former with a focus on new music releases, and the latter on events and books. Former editor Chris Bohn, meanwhile, becomes Editor In Chief.

James Heappey (pictured), MP for Wells in Somerset whose constituency includes the Glastonbury Festival and the Royal Bath and West Showground will spearhead the  All Party Parliamentary Group for Events. Heappey said he was “acutely aware of the value events bring to the economy”.

Alan McGee has announced his official return to the frontline label game with his new venture, Clark & McGee Ltd, run with ex- Soul II Soul and Leftfield A&R, Mick Clark. More from MBW here.

Midem organiser Reed MIDEM has announced that Simon Rhodes has joined the company as UK managing director. In his new position, Rhodes will oversee Reed MIDEM’s British-based business and take the UK sales lead on the company’s real estate portfolio.

Sony Music and the Artist Legacy Group have launched a new joint venture that provides artist brand management services, mainly for heritage artists, with the new enterprise sitting alongside the major label's catalogue division, Legacy Recordings.

Playlist service Bop.fm has been acquired by identity theft protection company LifeLock who will close its website entirely this Saturday. Staff will move to LifeLock. 

Pat Collins has been named Vice Chairman of SESAC effective April 1, 2016. Collins, who currently serves as President and CEO of SESAC Performing Rights, will now begin to transition to his new role as a Senior Advisor to the Company and Vice Chairman. xecutive Vice President Dennis Lord’s responsibilities will be expanded to include Creative as well as Business Affairs. In addition, Christos Badavas, currently Associate General Counsel at HFA, will be moving to a corporate role at SESAC as Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel.

Music Glue is expanding with the announcement of three new staff appointments: Kat Morris, formerly Director of The Great Escape festival, joins as Global Marketing Director, Jon Chapman, a former major label A&R, as UK Head of A&R and Brian Pacris joins as US Head of Sales & Marketing.

Crowdmix, the soon-to-be-launched ‘social music’ app, has hired industry veteran Dick Wingate as President, Artist & Entertainment Services for North America.

Vania Schlogel, the former private equity executive who represented Tidal in public and to investors as its chief investment officer, has now confirmed that she left the company in the summer - some months ago.

Pandora snaps up Rdio's assets

Spotify rival Rdio is set to file for bankruptcy in the US - and has already agreed to sell key assets to Pandora for $75m in cash. The move means that Pandora, previously a pureplay digital radio service, now has the platform its needs to become a fully interactive streaming service. The transaction is subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court. The Rdio acquisition news comes one month after Pandora bought ticketing firm Ticketfly for $450m - and Spotify set up its new Concerts service.

Of the $30m in unsecured debt that was declared, Rdio owed $2.4M to Sony Music Entertainment and Rdio owed Warner Music Group $613,374 and Universal Music Group $294,219. Apart from Sony, Rdio’s biggest creditors are partner and set-top box firm Roku Inc ($2.76m owed) and AEG-owned ticketing firm AXS Digital LLC ($1.25m owed). Other creditors of interest to the music industry include Shazam ($1.17m owed), Tunecore ($236k owed) and Merlin BV ($134,960 owed). The Orchard – now a fully-owned Sony Music company – was owed $383,960. 

Spotify to recommend gigs

Spotify has launched Concerts, a new feature which recommends local gigs to users. Currently rolling out to Android and iOS users, Concerts offers recommendations based on users' listening habits. As with Spotify's Discover Weekly playlists, there'll be a mixture of known acts and new bands that the service thinks users will like.

Kili rock on

Kilimanjaro Live is to present a new two-day classic rock festival at The O2 from June 18-19 next year in association with Classic Rock and Prog magazines. Stone Free Festival will be headlined by Alice Cooper and Rick Wakeman, who will perform his The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table album for the first time since 1975. Other artists will include Marillion, Steve Hackett and Blackberry Smoke. The festival will also include cinema screenings, a vinyl fair, specialist market stalls and classic album playbacks.

We remember those who died in Paris

PARIS, 13th November 2015

Nick Alexander, the Eagles of Death Metal's Merchandising Manager, has been killed in the Paris terror attacks at the Bataclan. His family said: "It is with huge sorrow that we can confirm that our beloved Nick lost his life at the Bataclan last night. Nick was not just our brother, son and uncle; he was everyone's best friend – generous, funny and fiercely loyal" adding "Nick died doing the job he loved and we take great comfort in knowing how much he was cherished by his friends around the world. Thank you for your thoughts and respect for our family at this difficult time. Peace and light." Africa Express' Robin Aitken posted "Nick had worked with us on Africa Express. I remember a friendly, helpful guy who added his bit of joy to our musical events. I can only begin to imagine the tragedy that his family and close friends must be going through, and I just feel sad for his life being cut short by people who have so badly misunderstood the way to build a better world". Nick's girlfriend of three years, Polina Buckley, distraught and mourning in New York, said on her Facebook  "Three years ago on this day I met you on the corner of East 15th and Irving Pl. I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on you. This was the most loving, passionate and eventful relationship I’ve ever experienced. You were my everything. My lover, my best friend, my soulmate. I am completely crushed and heartbroken right now. I will miss you terribly. Sleep tight, my sweet prince. I will always love you, Nick Alexander."

We also remember

Nathalie Jardin, who ran the house lighting at Le Bataclan and known by her nickname "Natalight"

Thomas Ayad, 34. International Product Manager for Mercury Records France 

Guillaume B. Decherf, 43. Journalist for celebrated French music and culture magazine, Les Inrockuptibles 

Marie Mosser, 24. Digital Marketing executive at Mercury Records France 


Manu Perez. Music industry marketing executive who worked at Universal Music France for over a decade 


UMG boss Pascal Negre tweeted on Saturday (November 14) that "The Universal Music family is in mourning".


These images of the show before the terrorist attack are by Manu Wino who said ""Because life goes on. Because they cannot win. Because it is awful and because no one can get back to it's normal life. Because too many friends (know or unknown) died Friday evening. Because it's only Rock & Roll..."

Music community in shock after terror attack in Paris

The International Artist Organisation has joined the many voices across the world in condemning the terrorist attacks in Paris, France. Music, sport and food represent freedoms of expression in some way and they are at the very heart of culture. The attacks last night were on a sport stadium, well known restaurants and a legendary music venue in Paris. 352 people were injured, 99 critically, in the attacks that left 129 dead.

The Bataclan has championed artists from all cultures across the globe from Lou Reed and Emmylou Harris to Prince, Oasis, Snoop Dogg and Bastille.

The Eagles of Death Metal were playing at the venue, and it has been confirmed the band's Merchandising Manager, Nick Alexander, was killed in the Paris attack

Venues such as the Bataclan have acted as a sort of global cultural exchange in the heart of France providing a crossroads at which people come together, learn from each other and leave understanding something new. In a world with increasing requirement for mutual understanding - perhaps more rather than fewer places like that are what we need.
Since the beginning of time, music has always been a message of happiness and celebration. Music continues to transport the word of peace in the hope of global harmony.

Tim Farriss of INXS gave the following statement from Sydney, Australia: “INXS, on behalf of all the artists who cherish humanity, the life and love of all our brothers and sisters from all reaches of the world express our deepest condolences to all those affected by these horrific attacks in Paris and condemn all acts of terrorism anywhere in the world. Like all artists that have a rich and joyous past of performing all over France, the Bataclan theatre in Paris, which we played as recently as 2011 holds a special place and our hearts go out to Jules Frutos and his colleagues at the Bataclan, all the French artistic community - and ALL the beautiful people of France. Vive La France.”

Our friend Robin Aiken from Africa Express posted this: "I'm posting this as a tribute to Nick Alexander who died in Paris on Friday. Nick had worked with us on Africa Express, a "thing" I help manage. I remember a friendly, helpful guy who added his bit of joy to our musical events. I can only begin to imagine the tragedy that his family and close friends must be going through, and I just feel sad for his life being cut short by people who have so badly misunderstood the way to build a better world."

At least 41 people have died and as many as 100 have been wounded in a suspected twin suicide attack claimed by Isis in Lebanon’s capital Beirut. The explosions are believed to have taken place in a predominantly Shia neighbourhood Burj al-Barajneh, to the south of the city, a city official – speaking on condition of anonymity – told Associated Press.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eagles-of-death-metal-merch-manager-nick-alexander-killed-in-paris-attack-20151114

Streaming revenue now exceeds downloads at UMG

Parent company Vivendi's quarterly figures have revealed that streaming now provides a bigger share of revenues than digital downloads worldwide.  Digital income had already overtaken physical and licensing revenues combined at the world's largest record company. UMG revealed that its recorded music income in the first nine months of 2015 hit €2.75bn - up 12.3% year-on-year or 1.9% at constant currency/perimeter. Within that figure, digital income was up 5.9% (at constant currency/perimeter) to €1.38bn - equating to 50.1% of the total revenue pie - and streaming accounted for 51% of its digital income in the final three-month period. UMG isn't the first major to pass this milestone, though: streaming income overcame download at Warner Music Group back in Q2 this year.

T payment to be investigated

Audit Scotland - which exists to provide "independent assurance to the people of Scotland that public money is spent properly, efficiently and effectively" - will investigate the £150,000 'grant' the Scottish government gave to T In The Park promoter DF Concerts - a Live Nation subsidiary - to help cover the costs of relocating the music festival's new site at the Strathallan Estate earlier this year.

The auditing body told The Scotsman: "Audit Scotland's work helps ensure the public can have trust and confidence about how public money is used. Given the public interest and correspondence we've received on this matter, we've decided to review the funding provided to T In The Park as part of the 2015/16 audit of the Scottish Government's consolidated accounts".

AGF team up with Manchester Metropolitan University for a sustainable events day

AGREENERFESIVAL have teamed up with Manchester Metropolitan University for a 'sold out' one day conference in Manchester on December 2nd for 200 final year event management students and invited industry guests . It's a packed day, and we are delighted to have the support of campsite waste campaigners Love Your Tent and food salvage experts 8th Plate as well as industry leaders from Powerful Thinking  and Firefly Solar to talk about sustainble power. On top of this we have leading experts from The Glastonbury Festival, Kendal Calling, The Hay Literary Festival and Shambala to talk about best practice and new ideas. The conference agenda looks like this:

09.25  Introduction & Welcome    Shaun Litler (MMU)

09.30   Andy Fryers, Hay Literary Festival: Juggling the Four Balls of Sustainability

10.15   Helen Innes, A Greener Festival:  Introducing Sustainability at Events

10.45 - 11.00am Comfort Break

11.00  Ben Challis, Glastonbury Festival / A Greener Festival: Events, The Environment and The Law

11.30  Questions with Andy Hay, Helen Innes and Ben Challis  (chaired by Shaun Litler)

12.00pm – 13.00pm Lunch

13.00   Rob Scully, Glastonbury Festival & Kendal Calling: Presentation: Glastonbury: Love the Farm, Leave No Trace & The Green Fields of Kendal Calling

13.30   Emma Dyer, 8th Plate, the food waste project: Food for Thought

13.45  Juliet Ross Kelly, Love Your Tent: The Solutions to Campsite Waste

14.00   Chris Johnson, Shambala Festival:  Powerful Thinking - the energy efficient, low carbon and cost effective future for festivals

14.15  Tim Benson, Firefly: Sustainable Power For Your Event

14.35 – 15.00 Break

15.00  Panel: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Tackling Waste at Events : Chaired by Shaun Litler with Chris Johnson (Shambala), Rob Scully (Glastonbury Festival), Emma Dyer (8th Plate), Juliet Ross Kelly (Love Your Tent) and Andy Fryers (Hay Literary Festival).

16.00 Closing remarks with Shaun Litler & Ben Challis

Many thanks to all of our friends for the making of what looks like being a very exciting and informative day!

Pandora ink deal with Sony/ATV

Pandora has agreed a landmark direct multi-year licensing deal with Sony/ATV in the US. The deal means that Pandora "has effectively bypassed the standard US compulsory licensing process – and its custodians, collection societies ASCAP and BMI – to gain access to Sony/ATV’s repertoire."

As a result, Sony/ATV says it has been able to negotiate improved rates for its 4 million copyrights directly, while Pandora says it will ‘benefit from a greater rate certainty and the ability to add new flexibility to the company’s product offering over time’. A similar direct agreement was reached by Pandora with BMG last year, while the independent labels recorded music body Merlin has also agreed a direct deal with the platform

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/pandora-strikes-direct-us-licensing-deal-sonyatv/

AIF and MU play fair

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and Musicians’ Union (MU) have teamed up for the Fair Play for Festivals initiative.  The agreement will formalise the existing relationship between emerging artists and independent festivals represented by AIF. Details were unveiled in a session presented by the AIF’s Paul Reed and the MU’s Kelly Wood on the first day of the AIF’s annual flagship conference and celebration event - The Festival Congress - in Cardiff on November 5.  The deal aims to provide practical guidance for musicians and festivals.

UK music industry's numbers crunched in Measuring Music

The UK music business contributed a whopping £4.1bn to the British economy in 2014 – with the live music sector claiming almost a quarter of the spoils. UK Music’s third annual economic study, Measuring Music 2015, refers to the GVA (Gross Value Added) performance from all sectors of the business, including publishing, live and records. In 2013, the GVA of the UK business was £3.8bn, £300m behind 2014’s tally. In 2014, live music revenues were up by 17% year-on-year to £924m, almost exactly 50% bigger than the contribution from recorded music, which stood at £615m. Music publishers contributed £410m to the UK economy in 2014, but the biggest revenue generator was ‘musicians, composers songwriters and lyricists’, who racked up £1.9bn in total – three times the figure attributed to labels.

And the Measuring Music report also looks at investment - showing that publishers almost match record labels in A&R investment - although the labels spend almost the same again on marketing. Record labels spent £178m on A&R in 2014, but publishers spent £162m on writers in the year, and in terms of  ‘pure’ A&R investment, this was just £16m behind their peers in record companies. The labels spend on marketing was an additional £157 million.

Retail sales of recorded music will see little variation in total spending levels in the years to 2020 despite the rising interest in streaming, according to global analyst firm Ovum’s latest forecasts. Spending on digital formats and services will overtake physical formats this year and go on to account for almost three-quarters of all sales in just six years.

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/labels-generated-50-less-money-than-live-for-uk-economy-last-year/

https://musicandcopyright.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/record-companies-the-biggest-winners-in-forecast-consumer-shift-from-ownership-to-access/

The Festival Congress Awards - winners 2015

And the winners of the FESTIVAL CONGRESS AWARDS announced last night in Cardiff are .......

New Festival on the Block – Camp Wildfire

Unique Festival Arena – The Hidden Hedge at Blissfields

Live Act of the Year – Slaves

Mind Blowing Spectacle – Boomtown’s Palace at Boomtown Fair

Best Smart Marketing – Boomtown Fair’s Spoof videos

Festival Journalist of the year- Simon Godley (God Is In The TV)

Innovative use of Technology – Shambala's bitcoin payments

Unsung hero – Chris Tofu from Continental Drifts/Global Local

MOBO Awards 2015 - the winners

The MOBO Awards 2015 winners list runs like this:

Best Male - Stormzy 

Best Female -Ella Eyre

Best Album - Krept & Konan - 'The Long Way Home' 

Best Song - Skepta - 'Shutdown' 

Best Video - FKA Twigs - 'Pendulum' 

Best Newcomer - Section Boyz 

Best International Album - Drake - 'If You're Reading This, Its Too Late'

Best Grime - Stormzy 

Best Hip-Hop - Krept & Konan

Best R&B/Soul - Shakka

Best African - Fuse ODG 

Best Reggae - Popcaan 

Best Jazz - Binker And Moses

Best Gospel - Faith Child 

Romanian leader resigns over nightclub inferno

Romania's Prime Minister is to stand down after huge protests over a nightclub fire that killed more than 30 people after widespread protests. "I'm handing in my mandate, I'm resigning, and implicitly my government too," Victor Ponta said in a statement, adding he would stay on until a new coalition had been formed. "I am obliged to take note of the legitimate grievances which exist in society," he went on. "I hope handing in my and my government's mandate will satisfy the demands of protesters."

http://news.sky.com/story/1581464/romanian-pm-resigns-over-fatal-nightclub-fire