CMU Daily 06.07.17: Lil Wayne adds Universal to his Cash Money litigation, MMF revamps board

Lil Wayne adds Universal to his Cash Money litigation, wants lots of cash money
Lil Wayne has ramped up his legal battle with Cash Money Records by once again pulling Universal Music into the dispute, basically accusing the Cash Money record company and its major label partner of colluding to screw him out of money.

As previously reported, Wayne has been in dispute with Cash Money - his long-time label - for some time now, partly over the delayed release of his long awaited 'Tha Carter V' album, and partly over monies he reckons he is due from records released by his joint venture imprint Young Money, which includes albums from that Drake chap.

Last year Wayne sued Universal Music directly in relation to his dispute with Cash Money. In that case, the rapper argued that Universal - which distributes Cash Money and Young Money releases - was keeping monies generated by the latter label's records in order to recoup advances previously paid to the former. But, he argued, his cut of Young Money income shouldn't be used to pay Cash Money's debts.

That case, which also listed collecting society SoundExchange as a defendant, was subsequently put on hold, because the judge overseeing the proceedings reckoned that Wayne's existing litigation against Cash Money itself should be resolved first.

So now Wayne has added Universal Music as a defendant on that litigation instead. In the new legal filing made yesterday, formally adding Universal to the Cash Money lawsuit, Wayne cites various alleged agreements between the major and Cash Money boss Bryan 'Birdman' Williams which, he says, interfered with his rights over the Young Money venture, and income linked to Drake releases in particular. He also alleges that those agreements were back-dated in a way that ensured he lost out even more.

The new legal papers also allege that Universal continued to advance Cash Money cash money, secured in part on future royalties from Young Money releases, despite knowing that its partner label still owed Wayne not insignificant sums relating to those releases.

Or, in the words of the lawsuit: "Despite Universal being aware of Cash Money's obligations to pay royalties and profits to plaintiffs, and Cash Money's failure to do so, Universal made a series of huge cash advances to Cash Money which Universal contended were nonetheless collateralised by, and recoupable by Universal against, the future revenues on Drake and other artist records and albums delivered by Cash Money".

It goes on: "Universal knew that Cash Money would not reserve from such advances sufficient funds to meet its obligations to plaintiffs, pay to plaintiffs earnings on the records co-owned by them, or to pay or account to other artists or vendors".

Wayne's amended lawsuit makes a number of demands, including that he get a third of the net profits from Drake's recordings, the right to audit both Cash Money and Universal Music, and the right to take 'Tha Carter V' to another label for release. Oh, yes, and that a "receiver be appointed to supervise the operations of the Young Money label joint venture" or "the joint venture be adjudged terminated and a liquidator appointed".

Fun times. Universal Music said that Wayne's claims were "entirely without merit" when he sued the company directly last year, so it can be probably be expected to say something similar about being listed as a defendant on the Cash Money case. Meanwhile, as his lawyers got busy doing legal things yesterday, Wayne himself posted four new tracks to YouTube.

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Sweden to hold women-only festival in response to attacks at Bråvalla
Swedish comedian Emma Knyckare has announced plans to hold a women-only music festival next year. The plan was made after the 2018 edition of Sweden's Bråvalla festival was cancelled, following numerous reports of rape and sexual assault at its 2016 and 2017 editions.

The idea started with a tweet, in which Knyckare wrote: "What do you think about putting together a really cool festival where only non-men are welcome until ALL men have learned how to behave?"

The suggestion quickly gained traction, with hundreds of people expressing an interest in getting involved "with everything from public relations to the cleaning lady", she told DN. Several artists have already agreed to perform too, including Linnea Henriksson, Julia Frej and Cleo Missaoui, she added.

Explaining her thinking behind the project, she said: "Who are the abusers? Well, men. So what if you put together a festival where they may not come? That was how I was thinking. I think it's sick that half the population has to walk around and feel insecure. So next year, there will be an option: A rock festival where women can feel completely safe".

Asked about fears that the event would be discriminatory, she added: "I hadn't thought of that. But since it seems to be okay to discriminate against women all the time, maybe it's okay to shut men out for three days. I would not exactly call it an abuse not to come to the festival. Also, [Swedish comedian] Magnus Betnér expressed an interest to clean up afterwards. So it won't be completely man-free".

The location and dates for the festival are yet to be announced.

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Ticketmaster partners with Lisnr on audio-based ticketing system
Live Nation's Ticketmaster has partnered with "ultrasonic audio technology" company Lisnr to implement a new smartphone-based ticketing system. Rather than having to scan a barcode or QR code, the system will allow ticketholders to enter venues using an inaudible audio tone transmitted by their phones.

Lisnr reckons this is cheaper to implement than other digital ticketing systems and provides better protection against secondary ticketing. It also provides other benefits for promoters and venues, in that scanners can be placed around a venue to track ticketholders' movements once they're through the door - similar to Bluetooth beacons. This information can then be used for crowd management, to push messages to people's phones and more.

"We used identity as our North Star - our guiding light to develop a product that makes each individual fan experience the greatest it could be", Ticketmaster's EVP Product Justin Burleigh tells Venturebeat. "This means using identity to drive customised experiences based on who you are and where you are, eliminating fraud, resulting in a safer environment, and delivering more personalisation based on the specific event you're attending".

Watch yourself a video talking all this up here.

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MMF launches new board rotation system and custodians committee at AGM
The Music Managers Forum held its Annual General Meeting yesterday and launched a new governance system in the process. Moving forward, around five new board members will be elected each year to serve a three year term on the committee that oversees the trade group for artist managers in the UK.

The first five new board members elected under this new system are Claire Southwick from Primitive Management, Ellie Giles from Various Artists, Paul Crockford from Paul Crockford Management, Steven Braines from The Weird & Wonderful and Tom Burris from ie:music.

The new set up is in part designed to enable a more diverse board to better represent the organisation's membership, which has grown considerably in recent years.

MMF CEO Annabella Coldrick commented: "The constant challenge for all trade bodies is to balance continuity with relevancy - to ensure you can deliver the services and lobbying demanded by your existing membership, while providing the pathways and encouragement for a new generation to get involved".

The new board rotation system will help meet this challenge, she reckoned. Coldrick: "It is a constant cycle, but having added 100 managers to our fold in the past year I believe the MMF is now starting to reach that sweet spot where members can get involved at a level that works for them, and regardless of background or genre they represent".

The AGM also approved a new group called the MMF Custodians, which will consist of industry veterans who will be available to advise the organisation. Those board members who stood down under the new rotation system are among the first members of this new committee, which includes Carol Crabtree (Solar Management), Gary McClarnan (Sparklestreet), Ian McAndrew (Wildlife Entertainment), Scott Rodger (Quest Management) and Tim Clarke (ie:music).

Elsewhere, Diane Wagg of Deluxxe Management was re-elected as Chair of the MMF, while Paul Craig from Nostromo Management was elected to the new role of Vice Chair. Meanwhile Stephen Budd stood down as co-Chair, but will remain on the board.

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Selfridges decides that Music Matters
Selfridges is going to have some musicians perform in its London, Manchester and Birmingham stores over the next few months, as part of a campaign called Music Matters.

This is being spun as some sort of response to so many music venues closing down in recent years. Although 1) that's not a solution, and 2) Selfridges did not invent the concept of in-store performances. Still, money will get donated to the Music Venue Trust, so maybe some good will come of it.

The main hub of all this activity, which will start later this month and run through to October, is the flagship Selfridges store on London's Oxford Street. A whole venue has been built inside the shop, which is being called the Ultralounge. Presumably tearing it all down on 19 Oct will be some sort of post-modern comment on the plight of live music.

Here is a line from the press release that I don't know what to do with: "Superstar creatives Skepta and A$AP Rocky will open and close Music Matters at Selfridges with global exclusive fashion-based concepts".

Anyway, tickets are now available for the performances (you didn't think they were going to let you in for free, did you?), with 20% of the door price going to the Music Venue Trust. There are some good people playing too. Eivør, Unkle, Vessels, Ama Lou, Joy Crookes and Nova Twins among them.

By the way, this Music Matters campaign is nothing to do with the music industry's official and rather rubbish Music Matters campaign of old. Which may or may not still be a thing. Info on all this Selfridges stuff here.

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CMU Insights to talk streaming business at Bucharest music conference
CMU Insights will present a session on the streaming business in Bucharest on Monday as part of a music conference called Mastering The Music Business. It's the second edition of the Romanian music industry event, which takes place over two days with a programme of presentations, case studies and workshops, plus a showcase in the evening open to fans as well as industry delegates.

The CMU Insights session is called 'Streaming - The Future Of The Music Industry?' and will provide a concise overview of the global streaming market today, where the streaming business may be heading, and how royalties from the digital platforms reach artists and songwriters via labels, distributors, publishers and collecting societies.

Other organisations presenting at the conference include TuneCore, Music Gateway, Global Records, PP Distributors, Pepsi, Grolsch and Romania's National Institute For Cultural Research And Training, plus delegates will also hear from video directors Roman Burlaca and Barna Nemethi, and a keynote from Romanian artist Smiley.

Bands playing the evening showcase include Romanian acts NextEX, Paper Magik, Fameless, Platonic Scale & Alla, Larisa, Fine It's Pink, Ligia Hojda and Anton, plus Ooberfuse from the UK and Art Diktator from Turkey.

More info about and the full programme for Mastering The Music Business is available here.

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Kele Okereke announces fatherly new album
Kele Okereke has announced his new solo album, 'Fatherland', will be released on 6 Oct. As well as the Bloc Party fronter himself, the record will feature collaborations with Corinne Bailey Rae and Years & Years' Olly Alexander.

Lyrically the album documents Okereke's feelings as he prepared to become a father to daughter Savannah, who was born in December last year. "Writing these songs and expressing these words and feelings, it's something that's vital for me", he says. "I'm recognising I'm entering into a different part of my life".

He continues: "I'm fully conscious that this record is probably going to serve as a document for Savannah of the relationship between her fathers and who we were before she came into our lives. It feels important for her to see that we don't have all the answers but we're trying".

New single 'Streets Been Talkin' is out now. Listen here.

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Zara Larsson announces tour dates
Zara Larsson has announced her first UK and Ireland headline tour. The dates come off the back of her collaboration with Clean Bandit, 'Symphony', which was revealed yesterday to be the seventh best-selling single of the year so far.

Here are the dates:

15 Oct: Belfast, Waterfront
16 Oct: Dublin, Olympia
18 Oct: Glasgow, Academy
19 Oct: Newcastle, Academy
21 Oct: Manchester, Apollo
22 Oct: Leeds, Academy
23 Oct: London, Hammersmith Apollo
25 Oct: Birmingham, Academy
27 Oct: Portsmouth, Guildhall
28 Oct: Southend, Cliffs Pavilion

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Denai Moore announces UK tour dates
Denai Moore has announced that she'll be heading out on a tour of the UK this autumn, in support of new album 'We Used To Bloom'.

Alongside the announcement, she's also released the video for latest single 'Desolately Devoted', of which she says: "'Desolately Devoted' is about the terrifying but wonderful sensation of wanting to be with someone, and the reluctance to accept that someone can make you feel so vulnerable".

On the video, she continues: "The idea of the video was for it to be shot in vast desolate spaces in South Africa. This was probably my favourite video I've ever shot, mainly because I would have been too terrified to make this kind of video years ago. I never used to be able to even watch my own videos back but I watch this one all the time".
Here are the dates:

25 Sep: Nottingham, Bodega
26 Sep: Manchester, Gullivers
27 Sep: Bristol, The Louisiana
28 Sep: London, Oslo
29 Sep: Brighton, Komedia
2 Oct: Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
3 Oct: Leeds, Headrow House
4 Oct: Glasgow, Stereo
5 Oct: Dublin, Whelan's

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Nathan Duvall, Shane Filan, Steve Beckett, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• Songwriter Nathan Duvall of Disciples, who has written hits for Little Mix and Calvin Harris, has extended his deal with independent publisher Phrased Differently. "Phrased Differently", says Duvall. "Duvall", insists Phrased Differently boss Hiten Bharadia.

• Dan Waite has joined Eleven Seven as its European MD. He replaces Gary Lancaster, who's swanned off to First Access Management.

• James Moodie has been appointed as Senior Marketing Manager of The Orchard. "James has joined us at The Orchard", confirm Orchard bosses Ian Dutt and Mike Chadwick. "Joining the company to be Senior Marketing Manager", adds Moodie.

• The folks behind ILMC have announced the launch of a new conference, The Event Safety & Security Summit, or E3S to its friends. "ES3 will be a forum to share information and best practice, as well as the latest concepts and tools related to security at live events", says ILMC head Greg Parmley. "We're inviting anyone who can contribute to this open, focused dialogue to get in touch via e3s@ilmc.com".

• Former Westlife enabler Shane Filan will release his third solo album, 'Love Always', on 25 Aug. He's putting it out on his own label, Ocean Wave Records, via a partnership with Absolute Label Services. "New album", says Filan. "His latest solo record", nods Absolute's Fraser Ealey.

• Japanese metal band Lovebites will release their debut EP through JPU Records on 25 Aug. Here's first single, 'Don't Bite The Dust'.

• Jamie Lidell will play a show at the Jazz Café in London 11 Jul. His latest album, 'Building A Beginning', is out now.

• Warp founder Steve Beckett is to be the winner of the Pioneer Award at this year's AIM Awards in September. "I'm so honoured to be recognised as a 'visionary' by my peers in the independent music industry", he says.

• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.

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I haven't quit Twitter, says Ed Sheeran (on Instagram)
Reports of Ed Sheeran's departure from Twitter have been overstated. He's still there, he's just not engaging with it. He's still tweeting, just not looking at any of your replies. Because you - and I mean you personally, you reading this now - are awful.

As previously reported, Sheeran told The Sun: "There's nothing but people saying mean things [on Twitter]. One comment ruins your day. That's why I've come off it. The headfuck for me has been trying to work out why people dislike me so much".

But he didn't mean he'd come all the way off it, oh no. Sheeran may now have donned a metaphorical blindfold and earplugs, but he's still holding a megaphone. So you can still get updates from Ed on Twitter, but every time you - and I mean you personally, you reading this now - respond to one of his tweets with "Come to Mexico!" or "Fuck off ginger cunt", he'll have no idea. And yet you still do it. Why?

Confirming all of this, Sheeran wrote in an update yesterday: "Loads of hoo-haa about me quitting stuff. I haven't quit anything, I'm just not reading anything, except Harry Potter".

Posting that on Instagram rather than Twitter didn't really advance his claims much. He probably should have read back his post too, then I wouldn't have had to fix his typos. But anyway, you - and I mean you personally, you reading this now - are just going to have to find another celeb to bother.

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