Label:Life

After the frenzied media coverage linking gun crime and inner-city violence to certain types of black music in the British press earlier this year, the Black Music Congress has decided to mark its first anniversary by debating the issues and also use the opportunity to find out about the outcomes of some of the recent initiatives around black music and violence. ‘Black Music & Violence: scapegoat or influence?, June 14, 3-6pm, Oliver Thompson Theatre, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1. For more info contact: editor@britishblackmusic.com

Cherry Red Records celebrates it’s 25th anniversary this year. The very first release on the London based independent label was the 7” single “It” by Malvern-based punks The Tights, issued on 2nd June 1978. Since then the label has released hundreds of singles, albums, DVDs and books across many different labels including the seminal debut album from The Dead Kennedys, “Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables”.Cherry Red is also now home to Cherry Red Films and Cherry Red Books. Both of these are relatively new divisions, Their first book having been published in 1997 and first DVD released in 2000. Twenty five years after its first release Cherry Red is still going strong and of course still independent. www.cherryred.co.uk

BMG UK and Ireland Chairman and CEO Tim Bowen highlighted the importance of partnerships with other sectors of the business as the major unveiled its line-up for the rest of the year. “we as a company understand that the only way we can go forward is through partnerships, not only with our artists but with media, retail and radio as well.” he said. (Musicweek 14th June)

The digital-music download industry appears likely to become an incredibly competitive space, reports claim. In an extensive report published this morning, the LA Times claims Apple Computer’s success in the market has inspired competitors, such as Microsoft, AOL Time Warner, and Yahoo, to look into launching their own competing services. All three are expected to launch their own services, according to reports. Other operators, including Amazon.com and MTV Networks are also moving to leverage their online brands.
yahoo.com

Our new ‘Pick Of The Week’ section has had to be temporarily postponed due to the excess of Albanian nose-flute recordings we have had to sit through!. Please, please send some decent new music to us at the following address: YourRelease
1st Floor, TempleGate DOJO
Lower Station Approach
Temple Meads
Bristol
BS1 6QS
UK

According to ‘Popbitch’(www.popbitch.com) Justin Timberlake is NOT to guest on the new ‘Bassment Jaxx’ album! (Ahem). It’s another member of ‘N-Sync’ instead! (well that’s allright then!...;)Ed)

YR’s ReleaseBox system gets ‘new release’ details displayed on hundreds of websites (such as Phatbass.com, Shockradio.co.uk, Stars.com, Rapworld.com, SimplyRadio.com, Boombox.net, MusikLine.co.uk, DanceTraxx.com, MusicFactory2, CoolJunkie.com- over 4000 registered), including a link back to your label site to increase your traffic. Submit your releases here! YR also carries out all forms of on-line and mobile marketing, email seth@yourrelease.co.uk to explore how we can help.

Brilliant Digital Entertainment, Inc., announced today that its Altnet subsidiary has developed a new platform to provide incentives and reward consumers for sharing licensed digital content. The Peer Points Manager, a new application that meters file uploads to other users will be available in June to Kazaa Media Desktop users. www.mi2n.com

As the world’s music giants face up to the prospect of another year of sliding sales, rumours have been swirling through the industry once again of a possible merger between two of the big five in the business.


Consolidation among the five largest recorded music groups-Universal, Sony, EMI, Warner and BMG in descending order-is seen by many analysts as the next logical step for an industry trimming the fat in response to falling revenues.

East Malaysian Daily Express

Nokia and Warner Music International today announced a new marketing collaboration to make music truly mobile for the Nokia 3300 music device. The collaboration – one of the first international campaigns between Nokia and a single music company – marks a completely new way for music fans to legally consume music content. www.mi2n.com