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Business News Week In Five
The music business week in five – 20 Apr 2012
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 20 April 2012
So, another batch of announcements were unleashed yesterday about The Great Escape, including the return of the Yearly Music Conference Awards, for which nominations are now being accepted. If you’re one of those people who visits a fair few music business conventions and showcase festivals, click this link and get nominating. Meanwhile, look out for another announcement on this year’s CMU-programmed TGE convention next week. And now, back to the week in music.
01: The EC approved Sony’s EMI Publishing bid. European competition regulators said they were happy that promises by the Sony-led consortium buying the EMI publishing business to sell some key UK-based catalogues would overcome fears that a combined Sony/ATV/EMI would be too dominant in the British market. Indie labels trade body IMPALA said the decision was “bad news for Europe’s publishers and writers”. Meanwhile the boss of Sony’s existing publishing company Sony/ATV, Marty Bandier, confirmed that the acquisition will result in job losses at EMI Music Publishing, but would not comment on reports in the New York Times that over half the current workforce would go. CMU report | FT report
02: Universal’s COO moved to publishing role. Zach Horowitz will cease to be COO for the wider Universal Music Group, and will become CEO of the major’s publishing business instead. Though that side of the empire has always reported into Horowitz anyway, and his new focus is seen as a sign that Universal wants to prepare to properly compete with its looming big new competitor, Sony/ATV/EMI. Horowitz will still input on public affairs issues at a group level, and sit on the UMG and VEVO boards. CMU report | Billboard report
03: Spotify and Facebook did things. Spotify announced a new partnership with Coke, which they thought warranted an NYC press conference, though few others agreed. But do expect lots of brand-owned apps to be added to the Spotify apps channel in the coming months. It’s not clear if they’ll be able to incorporate any music from the Spotify catalogue without the permission of artists and rights owners. Meanwhile Facebook added a ‘listen’ button to official artist pages, which links to music from the chosen artist via one of the social network’s streaming music partners (in Europe, mainly Spotify). Spotify report | Facebook report
04: Negotiations continued over the Mega data, the legitimate files stored on the servers previously rented by the shut down file-transfer company which are current offline. The authorities which shut down the firm say the files can be deleted, but former Mega customers, the Motion Picture Association Of America and MegaUpload’s defence lawyers all want access. The problem is who should pay for that to happen, given all of Mega’s funds have been frozen. Last week a judge told all interested parties to try to reach an agreement on the matter. If not, he’ll decide what to do himself next week. CMU report | Tech Week report
05: Leonard Cohen’s former manager was jailed. Cohen fired Kelley Lynch in 2004 over allegations she had spent all his money. Although the singer sued the manager over those allegations – and won – no criminal charges were pursued. The new criminal case related to allegations that Lynch had been harassing Cohen and his associates ever since, and had breached various restraining orders. She was given a five year sentence, with eighteen months in jail. Cohen thanked Lynch for insisting on a jury trial, saying it meant a more public spotlight had been shined on her various wrongdoings. CMU report | Guardian report
And that’s your lot, until the mighty CMU podcast returns this weekend – hurrah!
Chris Cooke
Business Editor, CMU
