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CMU Digest
CMU Digest 12.09.16: Fabric, iPhone 7, AIM, Deezer, Britney Spears
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 12 September 2016
The key stories from the last seven days in the music business…
The music community widely criticised the decision of Islington Council to withdraw Fabric’s licence. Council officials said that they had made their decision because of numerous breaches of the venue’s licensing agreement, adding that “a culture of drugs exists at the club which management cannot control”. Fabric hit back at those criticisms, pointing out that a judge had hailed the venue’s anti-drug policies just last year. The wider clubbing community called the decision short-sighted, adding that it set a dangerous precedent and would not reduce drug use. Fabric intends to appeal and a fund is being set up to help pay legal costs. [READ MORE]
Apple unveiled the iPhone 7 which, as expected, does away with the 3.5mm headphone socket. The move allows the tech giant to add extra functionality into its devices, and to make its phones even slimmer. Adaptors will be available that allow traditional headphones to be plugged in via the iPhone’s lightning connector used to charge the device, though Apple itself is pushing wireless headphones. [READ MORE]
The Association Of Independent Music announced that Paul Pacifico – currently boss of the UK’s Featured Artists Coalition – will become the indie label trade group’s new CEO, taking over from long-time incumbent Alison Wenham, who has run the organisation since it was founded in 1999. FAC gave the move its blessing and said it will now begin the search for a new chief executive. [READ MORE]
It emerged that the French competition regulator had given the go ahead for Access Industries to take a controlling stake in Deezer. Access, which also owns Warner Music, and has stakes in Songkick and First Access Entertainment, increased its shareholding in the streaming firm as a result of a new financing round earlier this year. The French regulator said that competition concerns about one company controlling both Warner and Deezer were not founded, because neither had sufficient market share to distort the music sector. [READ MORE]
Britney Spears settled with her one-time manager Sam Lutfi. He was close to the singer during her highly public breakdown in 2007 and 2008, and claimed to be her manager during that time. Once out of favour, he sued on various grounds, including for management commissions he reckoned he was due. The case was originally dismissed, but elements of it were restored on appeal. The settlement comes ahead of a scheduled court date next month. [READ MORE]
The big deals from the last seven days in the music business…
• Live Nation announced a JV with Qatar’s Elan Group [INFO]
• Believe announced a strategic partnership with DRM New Zealand [INFO]
• FUGA announced several new label deals [INFO]
• Universal’s Capitol US was reportedly set to sign Niall Horan [INFO]
• Kanye West signed Tyga to his GOOD label [INFO]
• Cooking Vinyl signed Lewis Watson [INFO]
• Napalm Records signed Arch Enemy frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz [INFO]
