Label:Life

A campaign is under way to protect music copyrights due to expire on 50-year-old records by Elvis Presley and other rock legends.

The UK music industry has begun the fight over a legal loophole on royalty payments.

Starting on 1 January 2005, copies of songs can be issued in Europe 50 years after their release without the need for payments to copyright owners.

It could affect records by Chuck Berry, James Brown – and by 2013, The Beatles. [more @ www.news.bbc.co.uk]

Ringtones, games and digital radio may be the new revenue streams the music industry is seeking in facing lagging CD sales, according to Shahid Khan, a managing director with BearingPoint, Inc., one of the world’s largest business consulting and systems integration firms.

“In Europe and other regions, ringtones are a billion-dollar business, yet sales were only in the low millions in the United States during 2003,” said Khan. “The music industry must immediately look creatively for new markets and revenue streams.

Industry executives must now consider what is needed to accelerate U.S. sales, or if there are better opportunities in licensing music to games and other new forms of entertainment. Subscription radio may also be a viable business option.” [more @ www.prnewswire.com]

The Streets, a.k.a. innovative English rapper Mike Skinner, have the U.K.’s No. 1 single and album, just days after being nominated for the country’s prestigious Mercury Music Prize.

The one-man band’s album, “A Grand Don’t Come For Free,” moved up one place to No. 1 in its 11th week on the survey, while second single “Dry Your Eyes” entered the chart at No. 1. [Hooray!- Just goes to show that music can be innovative, heartfelt and successful. -ED] [more @ www.reuters.com]

Choice FM,in association with Apollo Entertainment is pleased to announce the launch of ‘Reggae in the Park’ – Britain’s first official yearly outdoor reggae music festival which debuts at East London’s Victoria Park on September 5, 2004. The 1-day festival starts at 12 noon, and finishes at 10pm.

The festival line-up features some of the biggest acts in reggae music: Marcia Griffiths, Sizzla, Freddie McGregor, Barrington Levy, Vybes Kartel, Gregory Isaacs and The Mighty Diamonds, with many more acts still to be confirmed.

For the full press release and ticketing details click here: www.noblepr.co.uk

Is the music business heading for a public relations disaster? MusicAlly brings together the chief executives of Britain’s leading advertising, marketing and PR firms to share their insight.

Just as the first significant legal online music stores are launching in the UK, British labels are considering whether or not to sue thousands of their own customers. But can the industry succeed in winning over the hearts and minds of today’s technology-savvy music fans?

Some of today’s most respected PR and communications experts will debate keynote pitches and presentations with the goal of helping the music industry get across its point in a fresh, innovative and credible way.

The event will provide an opportunity for you to debate and network with some of the UK’s brightest creative minds as well as senior executives from leading music companies. Tickets include free drinks after the event.

The MusicAlly Debate will take place on Monday September 13, 2004 from 6.00pm at the Guardian Newsroom, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA. Tickets can be booked Online; alternatively e-mail debate@MusicAlly.com or telephone (020) 7359 0798.
Places, once reserved, can be transferred but not refunded.

Franz Ferdinand and The Darkness have both scored two nominations in this year’s MTV Video Music Awards 2004.

The ‘Take Me Out’ promo is in the running for the MTV2 Award and Breakthrough Video prizes, while ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ is placed in the Best Rock Video and Best New Artist In A Video’ categories. [more @ www.nme.com]

Introducing the “Record Producer & Recording Engineer Directory,” the best way to find producers and engineers in every style or genre of music, plus their full credits and management firms, as well as complete contact data, including phone, fax and e-mail.

Produced by the Music Business Registry in association with RPM Direct, the “Record Producer & Recording Engineer Directory” contains:

- 1,700 record producers & recording engineers in the USA, Canada & Europe
- Producer & engineer credits
- Phone, fax & e-mail addresses
- Producer & recording engineer management firms
- Management firm staff and client rosters
- Complete index of all personnel
- Interviews and articles with leading producers

Created for professionals in A&R, artist management, recording studios, and at record labels, the 150-page “Record Producer & Recording Engineer Directory” is also ideal for producers, engineers, artists, and remixers. An in-depth and wide-ranging publication, this is a directory you will find dispensable.

The listings for the “Record Producer & Recording Engineer Directory” come from RPM Direct’s online directories located at www.rpmdirect.com The “Music Producer & Recording Engineer Directory” is $90.00 and is available by phone at 800-377-7411 or 818-995-7458 or may be ordered online at www.musicregistry.com

Firstly, an interesting article reading between the lines of the Apple/Motorola deal from The Register.

Given that anyone with a little tech savvy can already put legal files that they have paid for onto a mobile phone via bluetooth (Fair use), just how good will this deal be for the consumer and the fledgling digital music business as a whole? [more @ www.theregister.co.uk]

Secondly, a very interesting interview with Peter Gabriel from CNN on the future of music and the music business.

“The future should be [that] you can get anything, anytime, from wherever you are, anywhere, and whoever you are, whatever country, whatever language you speak.” – Peter Gabriel. [more @ www.cnn.com]

Pick of the week this week comes in the form of Fabriclive 17 : Aim, released 8/16/2004 on Fabric. Fabriclive 17 is an unhurried journey through Aim’s record collection and influences. Like his DJ sets, the selection of hip hop, soul and funk tracks are often allowed to play out.

With a diverse array of artists like Boards Of Canada, The Byrds , A Tribe Called Quest and Aim’s Manchester compadres Fingathing, this album is a good representation of what Aim is about; diverse, original, cool as f**k music.

Check it an official radio mix to promote the fabric album HERE.

Apologies for the late delivery of Label:Life this week due to technical shenannigans. Oh, and have a good week all.