Amazon 'to launch music streaming subscription service'
Amazon is preparing to launch a standalone music streaming subscription service. The service will be offered at $9.99 per month and it will offer a competitive catalogue of songs, according to sources. The company is finalising licenses with labels for the service, which is likely to be launched in late summer or early autumn, the sources added. Amazon currently offers a free streaming music service with a limited catalogue to subscribers of its Prime shipping and video service. (Reuters)
Close to 30m attended a UK music event in 2015
UK Music is urging the government to up its support for the live sector after a new report revealed a figure equivalent to nearly half of the UK population attended a music festival or concert last year. A total audience of 27.7 million attended live music events in the UK in 2014, up from 24m in the previous 12 months, comprising 24m attending concerts and 3.5m going to festivals. More people are also watching live music locally, with 17.3m local residents attending music events in their local area in 2015, a 14% rise year-on-year. Despite the impressive figures – released by UK Music as part of its annual Wish You Were Here report – the organisation’s CEO Jo Dipple has called for local authorities and national Government to devise strategies for live music in tourism, planning law, development rights, policing and licensing. “We are very good at music in this country, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t need policies that bolster our success," she said. (Music Week)
New Radiohead album almost became Spotify's first premium windowed album
Spotify came close to having Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool album as an exclusive to premium subscribers on its day of release, May 8. It is understood Spotify was in advanced discussions with Radiohead’s management company Courtyard and label XL Recordings about a deal to make A Moon Shaped Pool the first album to be windowed to premium subscribers on the service. The deal ultimately didn't come to pass and the album will only become available on Spotify this Friday, the date of the album's physical release. (Music Ally)
Grainge heads music names in birthday honours
Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge has been handed a knighthood in the Queen’s 90th birthday honours. It was awarded for services to British business and inward investment, acknowledging Los Angeles-based Grainge’s status as one of the UK’s most successful business leaders. Grainge is joined on the list by one of his artists – Decca-signed Rod Stewart, who is also made a Sir, and Universal UK’s senior director, HR, Morna Cook, who is awarded an MBE for services to the music industry and apprentices. Other music names to make the honours list include another Decca artist, veteran singer Dame Vera Lynn, who is made a companion of honour. The chair of the Royal Opera House and Aldeburgh Music, Simon Robey, is made a Sir. Pop-stars-turned-TV-presenters Ant & Dec and trumpeter Alison Balsom are given OBEs. Professor Colin Lawson, director of the Royal College of Music, classical pianist Paul Lewis and composer/conductor John McLeod all receive CBEs. (Music Week)
Zayn Summertime Ball cancellation explained
Zayn Malik cancelled his set at Saturday’s Capital Summertime Ball because of anxiety, he revealed in a Twitter post. Organisers announced the former One Direction singer had pulled out due to "illness" shortly before he was due to take the stage at the Wembley Stadium event on Saturday. “Unfortunately my anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me,” he wrote. “With the magnitude of the event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career.”
Tycoon drops lawsuit over EMI takeover
Private equity tycoon Guy Hands has dropped his legal battle with investment bank Citigroup over his firm's takeover of EMI in 2007. The founder of private equity firm Terra Firma had sought damages of £1.5bn alleging that the US investment bank misled him over the deal. (BBC)
Justin Bieber's Sorry first song to pass 100m streams in UK
Justin Bieber has set a new high water mark for streaming in the UK, with his No.1 hit Sorry this week becoming the first ever song to register over 100 million streams. The most-streamed song in Official Charts Company history hit No.1 in October 2015 and has remained on the chart ever since. Bieber’s Purpose album – released on Virgin EMI – has been a streaming phenomenon since release and has now sold 982,340 copies, 241,837 of which are streaming ‘sales’. (Music Week)
The Voice US contestant shot dead
Singer Christina Grimmie, who had competed on the US version of The Voice, died after being shot in Florida. A man opened fire on her when she was signing autographs after a concert in Orlando, then shot and killed himself. The 22-year-old singer died in a local hospital. Grimmie finished third during season six of The Voice in 2014. (BBC)
Isle Of Wight Festival stages Bowie tribute
Thousands of festival-goers donned David Bowie masks in tribute to the music legend during the weekend's Isle Of Wight Festival. The show of remembrance was held at the main stage of the Isle Of Wight Festival to raise money for the Stand Up to Cancer charity. The tribute involved fans singing along to Heroes, Rebel Rebel and All The Young Dudes. Andrea Corr and Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet also sang a version of Starman ahead of The Corrs' appearance on the main stage. Bowie's final UK concert was at the 2004 Isle Of Wight Festival and the event's promoter John Giddings was the star's longtime agent. (BT)
New Music Week out now
The latest edition of Music Week has full details of UK Music's Wish You Were Here report, analysis of publishing in 2015, including market shares and full trends, and a feature on Kilimanjaro Live ahead of the debut of the promoter's Stone Free Festival at The O2. This week's Big Interview is with Decca Records MD Rebecca Allen.
