Label:Life

“Forget the name of this thing,” one audience member said of the Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film and TV Music Conference, “it’s really all about the politics and money it takes to put your music in a flick.” More than one attendee privately agreed.

The underlying truth of that position may explain the conflicting points made by the more than two dozen speakers. Glen Ballard, for example, was optimistic while maintaining a healthy dose of pessimism. Mark Mothersbaugh was elated yet often reliant on quietly humorous sarcasm. Chris Douridas was excited, but also realistic and determined. And so it went during the two-day event held at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood, with every panelist upbeat about many aspects of the industry while acknowledging that there are lots of problems. [more @ www.narip.com]

It wasn’t so long ago that Apple Computer encouraged us all to “Rip. Mix. Burn.”

Now the Beastie Boys, David Byrne and other artists have issued “The Wired CD,” a compilation of new music that invites listeners to “Rip. Sample. Mash. Share.” That’s the kind of musical experimentation that could get you slapped with a lawsuit.

But have no fear of hearing the heavy tread of entertainment attorneys at your door. The CD, distributed with the November issue of Wired magazine, is the first to be issued under a new type of license. Called the Creative Commons, it is the brainchild of Stanford Law School professor Lawrence Lessig. [more @ www.seattletimes.com]

The new Band Aid single, Do They Know It’s Christmas?, sold nearly 100,000 copies on its first day, according to its record company.

First-day sales across the UK reached 95,000 copies, Mercury Records said, putting the single on course to sell 300,000 in its first three days alone.

The new version of the classic Eighties hit is certain to reach number one this week and looks set to stay there for Christmas. [more @ www.scotsman.com]

Lobbyists for movie studios and record labels have long dominated the copyright discussion in Washington, using their power and influence to help craft law favorable to their interests.

Now, a group of citizens in favor of a more consumer-friendly copyright policy have formed a political action committee in hopes that the interests of the public can be served, too.

“Copyright is supposed to be a balance in the Constitution,” said David Alpert, president of IPac, which launched about a month before the 2004 election. “The government should not be in the business of preventing technology changes just because some companies are afraid it might hurt their existing business models.” [more @ www.wired.com]

Jamaica is preparing itself for what many people believe could be economic fallout from the decade-long battle between gay rights groups and the local entertainment industry.

Ten years after the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and British gay rights group Outrage began their campaign against the homophobic lyrics of dancehall stars, the local business community has begun its own “clean-up” of dancehall.

The groups have targeted some of the nation’s top international artists including Beenie Man (Anthony Moses Davis), Buju Banton (Mark Myrie), Bounty Killa (Rodney Price) and TOK (a five-man group), for their homophobic lyrics. The campaign has been successful, causing the cancellation of reggae tours and the removal of dancehall acts from major shows across Europe and the United States.

‘’We are now realising some of the consequences of our failure to address prejudice and discrimination,’’ says a spokesman for the Jamaica Federation of Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (J-Flag), who asked to remain anonymous. [more @ www.ipsnews.net]

GoVideo has issued a challenge to the MP3 player industry on behalf of consumers everywhere. GoVideo’s “MP3 Player Bill of Rights” declares that MP3 player owners should have the freedom to choose where to buy music online, which software they use to manage their music, and whether to use a Mac or PC.

This “Bill Of Rights” covers: Choice of music stores, choice of software, standard connectors, computer choice etc. [more @ www.d-silence.com]

On December 8, the UN refugee agency will hold a unique concert in London’s Royal Albert Hall to raise funds for victims of western Sudan’s Darfur conflict.

International musicians and singers in the diverse line-up include singer-songwriters David Gray and Robbie Craig, lead singer of the Pretenders Chrissie Hynde, Simply Red front man Mick Hucknall, soprano Barbara Hendricks, disco-diva Jocelyn Brown, singers Alison Moyet and Andrew Coleman, Greek opera star Mario Frangoulis, West End and Broadway stage actress Ruthie Henshall, and pop star Daniel Pearce. [more @ www.unhcr.ch]

The Streets, aka British rapper and songwriter, Mike Skinner have topped a poll to find the year’s best album.

A Grand Don’t Come for Free beat Keane’s Hope and Fears in second place with Franz Ferdinand’s self-titled album third, in the Q magazine poll.

Skinner uses blunt beats under streetwise lyrics about such things as falling in love and drink and drugs.

Q Magazine said: “A Grand Don’t Come for Free captured the country’s mood in a way no one could have predicted.” [more @ www.bbc.co.uk]

This week’s pick is ‘An Answer’ by 3 Feet Short, from their new 7 song EP ‘Apocalypse New’, out January 4th ‘05 on Tyrebyter Music.

Hailing from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 3 Feet Short combine elements of Punk, Ska, Classic Rock and funk and do it very well indeed. ‘An Answer’ is a great, tight sounding single, with shades of early Police, the good Boomtown Rats stuff and even Elvis Costello.

Check it out HERE.

Between torrential rain and James Brown, Thursday’s RCMP town hall meeting in North Preston (Yorkshire, UK) never stood a chance. Anyone who had concerns about policing were nowhere to be seen at the North Preston Community Centre, where the gathering was scheduled to take place.

One officer estimated that 80 per cent of the community had vacated for the night to watch the James Brown concert at the Halifax Metro Centre. So, the fifth in a series of community meetings was postponed. [Glad to see they’ve got their priorities right up north! -Ed.] www.rockrap.com