CMU Daily 07.08.18: More advertiser issues for YouTube after brands pull ads over drill video placements, Concord Music buys Independiente Records

More advertiser issues for YouTube after brands pull ads over drill video placements
An advertising industry analyst reckons that the latest falling out between a major brand and YouTube poses an opportunity for traditional broadcasters like ITV as they further expand their online offerings. This follows the news late last week that Mars had pulled all of its advertising off the Google video site after its products had been placed alongside music from the UK drill scene.

Mars pulled its ads after a commercial for Starburst appeared alongside a video from drill outfit Moscow17, who were in the news last week after one of their members - Siddique Kamara aka Incognito - died in a stabbing incident in Camberwell, south London.

Kamara was the second Moscow17 member to be killed this year, after Rhyhiem Barton was murdered in May. Meanwhile Kamara himself had been accused of involvement in another homicide - of Abdirahman Mohamed from rival group Zone 2 - but was cleared of those charges during a trial earlier this year.

The at times violent feuding between Moscow17 and Zone 2 and their related gangs has in part played out through music and videos posted to YouTube. This includes 'diss tracks' in which rival gang members taunt each other.

Confirming that it was removing ads from YouTube after appearing alongside the Moscow17 video, a spokesperson for Mars said last week: "It is unacceptable and disappointing to see one of our brands advertised alongside this video content. This clearly breaches our brand safety guidelines and Mars adverts should never run alongside such content".

They went on: "We have taken the action to remove all our online advertising on YouTube and can confirm we are working with Google and our media buying agencies to understand what went wrong. Until we have confidence that appropriate safeguards are in place, we will not advertise on YouTube".

In May, YouTube confirmed it had removed around 30 "violent" music videos from its platform at the request of London's Metropolitan Police, in the midst of concerns about the link between video posts from the UK drill scene and rising knife crime in the capital.

Of course it's all too easy to demonise entire genres of music when some of its makers are involved in violent acts. And obviously wider social issues, exacerbated in large part by government policy over the last decade, are key factors in the recent rise in knife crime in parts of London. But police argue that online messages posted by rival gangs are increasing tensions that can directly lead to violence.

Following last week's events, a Google spokesperson said yesterday that: "We are actively working with the Metropolitan Police to review videos that may be connected with this incident. Along with others in the UK, we share the deep concern about this issue and do not want our platform used to incite violence".

It's not the first time brands have pulled advertising from YouTube because their commercials have appeared alongside controversial content. A flurry of advertisers bailed on the platform last year after a Times report on how big brands were being placed alongside videos posted by political extremists and groups promoting hate crimes and terrorism. In the wake of that advertiser exodus, Google insisted it would do more to monitor content on its platforms and enhance the ways in which adverts get placed.

But Ian Whittaker at Liberum Capital told ad industry trade mag Campaign yesterday that "there are no signs YouTube is closer to solving [this] problem. The seemingly endless wave of YouTube problems on this issue creates an opportunity for ITV to take a greater share of the very fast growing £1.7bn online video advertising market where it has a [less than] 6% share [versus] a 46% share of UK TV advertising".

Following last year's controversy around ads being placed with extremist content, the music industry's Vevo platform talked up how it could guarantee that a brand's ads would only ever appear alongside official artist videos. Though with music content being the issue this time, it could only capitalise on this latest fallout if it filtered videos pumped into its system via DIY music distribution services. And if it was willing to make an editorial call on what music videos could and could not carry advertising.

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Concord Music buys Independiente Records
US-based Concord Music has acquired UK indie label Independiente Records which enjoyed much success in the late 1990s and 2000s with the likes of Travis, Embrace, So Solid Crew, Martina Topley-Bird and Paul Weller. In more recent years the record company has been focused on looking for new opportunities to exploit its catalogue, especially in sync.

Confirming the sale to Concord, Independiente founder Andy Macdonald said: "It was very important to me to hand over this collected body of work to a label who both understands and respects the work that has been put in from the artists and label staff, and it was immediately apparent from our meetings with Scott [Pascucci] and Steve [Salm] that they tick both of those boxes and more".

He added: "Concord Music has assembled a fantastic universe of brilliant music over the years and I am proud to see Independiente become an important part of that picture".

The there mentioned Steve Salm then said: "Being able to bring the recordings of Travis, Paul Weller, Embrace, So Solid Crew, Archive and many others to Concord Music is a responsibility we take very seriously. Andy developed and created a truly unique roster of artists at Independiente and we look forward to developing the next chapter of marketing, promoting and managing these works of art for the artists who created them".

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Universal and Liongate sign deal to develop TV projects
Universal Music has signed a new deal with film and TV company Lionsgate. It will see the latter work on telly projects with Polygram Entertainment, the film and TV unit established by Universal Music last year.

Universal will also handle the soundtracks for these new projects, which continues an ongoing relationship between the two companies in this domain. Universal labels have previously put together soundtracks for films including 'La La Land' and 'The Hunger Games'.

"We're THRILLED to expand our relationship with Universal Music Group, one of the world's most innovative music companies and home to some of the greatest musical talent and recordings in existence", says Lionsgate Television Group's Chair Kevin Beggs, seemingly keen to lavish praise on his business partner.

"With Polygram, UMG has produced award-winning films and we can't wait to see what we can accomplish together in television" he goes on. "We see so much opportunity for storytelling in the talent and properties that UMG represents, and we look forward to working together to bring these incredible stories to life in a way that resonates with a global audience".

Universal Music EVP Michele Anthony adds: "We're excited to partner with Lionsgate, one of the premiere entertainment companies in the world, to create an unmatched opportunity for our artists and labels and the stories they inspire, as well as draw from the goldmine of genres, time periods and legendary figures represented by our rich and storied catalogue".

Briefly pausing to brag about the all new Polygram business, she continues: "Polygram has quickly become a home for Hollywood's brightest creators and this partnership is a significant step in our television and audio-visual strategy, as well as our evolution as a global media company".

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Libertines hijack final day of Wheels & Fins festival
The Libertines are launching their own festival. Sort of. They're renaming the last day of a festival they were already headlining. Still counts though, right? They'll launch their Sharabang event by taking over the last day of this year's Wheels & Fins festival, with plans to make the new festival brand its own thing in the coming years.

As well as performing at the close of the festival, the band have curated the line-up for the day. Playing before them will be Echo And The Bunnymen, Reverend And The Makers , Cabbage, Chas & Dav, Mic Righteous, Lock and Zuzu, with poet Luke Wright compering.

Wheels & Fins takes place at Joss Bay near Broadstairs, just up the road from The Libertines' still-in-development hotel, The Albion Rooms in Margate. Currently they've got a union jack hanging off the scaffolding and have tried out a few different colours of paint on the front of the building, none of which I'd say are right for it. Stay tuned for more!

Find out about the festival here.

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Slaves announced November tour dates
Slaves will be doing some of that banging and shouting you like all around Great Britain in November this year. By then, they'll have released their third album, 'Acts Of Fear And Love', because that's out this month. And this month is before November. For certain. I double checked and everything.

Tickets for the shows will go on general sale on Friday, but I can tell you all the dates right now:

7 Nov: Newcastle, Academy
8 Nov: Glasgow, Barrowland
10 Nov: Nottingham, Rock City
15 Nov: Norwich, UEA
16 Nov: Liverpool, Academy
17 Nov: Manchester, Academy
19 Nov: Leeds, Academy
20 Nov: Bristol, Academy
22 Nov: Cardiff, Academy
23 Nov: Birmingham, Academy
24 Nov: London, Alexandra Palace

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Shinedown announce UK shows
US hard rock troupe Shinedown have announced that they will follow the release of eighth album, 'Attention Attention', and a recent Download appearance with a UK tour this autumn.

"We are so excited to FINALLY announce our 2018 UK tour", says frontman Brent Smith. "We want the fans, our 'family', to know how much we appreciate their patience. With that being said, LET'S GET IT ON!"

Alright, there's no need to shout. Anyway, tickets for the tour go on sale on Friday, and support will come from Starset and Press To Meco. Here are the dates:

29 Oct: Newcastle, Academy
30 Oct: Glasgow, Academy
31 Oct: Manchester, Academy
2 Nov: Norwich, UEA
3 Nov: Southampton, Guildhall
5 Nov: Birmingham, Academy
6 Nov: Bristol, Academy
7 Nov: London, Brixton Academy

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7digital, Cypress Hill, Paloma Faith, more

Other notable announcements and developments today...

• 7digital has named Stacey Mitsopulos its new Director Of Legal, Business Affairs And Music Partnerships. She joined the company earlier this year as Head of Legal & Business Affairs. "We know our many global clients, as well as the 7digital business itself, will benefit from this important hire", says CEO Simon Cole.

• Cypress Hill have signed to BMG to release their first album for eight years. 'Elephants On Acid' is out on 23 Sep.

• Paloma Faith has released the video for her Sia-written track 'Warrior'.

• Morcheeba have released the video for new single 'It's Summertime'. They'll be touring the UK next month, including a show at the Shepherds Bush Empire on 12 Oct.

• Vök are back with new single 'Autopilot'.

• Flohio has released new track 'Ten Rounds'.

• Bristol dubstep pioneer Gemmy is back with new EP 'Unruly'. From it, this is 'Na Tek Bak Chat'.

• Princess Chelsea has released new single 'Wasting Time'. Her new album, 'The Loneliest Girl', is out on 7 Sep and she'll play The Shacklewell Arms in London on 9 Sep.

• Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch has released the video for 'Morphee', taken from her latest album 'Époques'.

• All Them Witches have announced that they will release their fifth album, 'ATW', on 28 Sep. Here's first single 'Fishbelly 86 Onions'.

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

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Tony Hadley insists he was pushed out of Spandau Ballet
Tony Hadley has insisted that he was forced out of Spandau Ballet after the band put him into "a no-win situation".

The 1980s outfit reformed in 2009, of course. But a year ago Hadley issued a statement that read: "Due to circumstances beyond my control, it is with deep regret that I am required to state that I am no longer a member of the band Spandau Ballet".

In their own follow up statement, the rest of the band suggested it was Hadley who was behind his departure from the group. They said: "Much to our frustration, Tony had made it clear in September 2016 that he didn't want to work with the band anymore".

Despite Shane Ritchie's best efforts to reconcile the feuding bandmates, the rest of the group vowed to "move on as a band", and subsequently began looking for a new frontman. And to that end, they recently confirmed the appointment of actor/singer Ross William Wild as the new vocalist in the band.

In a new interview with OK! Magazine, Hadley insists that he was pushed out of Spandau Ballet by his inflexible bandmates. He says: "They can sugarcoat it as much as they like, but they know exactly why I left the band. I was forced into a no-win situation. I thought we'd go off and do solo work and I'd release my album, then we'd get back together again. That was the way I always planned it; they didn't see it like that".

Shane Ritchie is yet to comment.

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