The record industry really is in a period of change, proved even more by the fact that Madonna has signed a ground-breaking recording and touring contract with concert promoter Live Nation.
She is the first major star to choose an all-in-one agreement with a tour company, eschewing the traditional record deal, of the type that has covered her entire career.
It gives Live Nation rights to all her music-related projects – including new albums, tours, merchandise, websites, DVDs, sponsorship, TV shows and films.
The deal, reported to be worth around £59m over 10 years, ends her 25-year relationship with Warner Music – a relationship she has held for her entire career, during which time she has sold 200 million records and CDs.
As we are fast approaching the 1st November album launch gig for Cassette Electrik, presented exclusively by MusicRiot, we decided it was time to get the two people behind the band sat down and answering questions!
Here is Part 1 where we look at how the band formed, when they started gigging, and why they were nearly called “Hot Buttered Elvis”! Read more
Sex Pistols have re-released “God Save the Queen” 30 years after the original release this week.
“God Save the Queen” was allegedly denied the number one spot in 1977 because authorities thought it would spoil the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. Stars including Dave Grohl, Noel Gallagher and Slash from Guns n’ Roses are backing the campaign to get the record to number one.
The Sex Pistols are also set to reunite for a string of dates later this month including five nights at the Bristol Academy in London.
The winners of the annual Q awards have been announced this week at an awards ceremony in London.
Among the winners were newcomers The Enemy picking up “Best New Act” and Kate Nash winning “Breakthrough artist”. “Best Live Act” went to Muse while “Best Track” went to Manic Street Preachers with “Your love alone is not enough”.
Several artists were awarded for their contribution to music including Johnny Marr being given a lifetime achievement award and Paul McCartney winning the “Q Icon” award. For a full list of winners head over to www.qawards.co.uk
MusicRiot is proud to announce the arrival of a new sister site – www.movieriot.co.uk will cover all movie news, reviews, interviews and more (that we may not have thought of yet…)
Check it out.
Pop singer Edwyn Collins is to make his return to performing, since suffering a life-threatening illness in 2005, will perform at the BBC’s Electric Proms later this month.
The scottish singer, best known for “A Girl Like You”, will perform tracks from his current album, “Home Again”, at Dingwalls in Camden, London, on 28th October.
“I’m back and raring to go,” he said. “How exciting to be in my old world again, with my band and among friends.”
Collins suffered two brain haemorrhages in 2005 and then spent six months in hospital after a surgical scar became infected with the MRSA bug.
“To have Edwyn performing for us is a real privilege,” said Electric Proms director Lorna Clarke.
Yoko Ono joined with fans of her late husband John Lennon in Iceland to mark what would have been his 67th birthday by unveiling a tower of light in his name.
Ono lit up the Imagine Peace Tower in Videy island, near Reykjavik, as a choir sang Lennon’s 1975 hit “Imagine”.
Accompanied by her son Sean Lennon, Yoko was also joined by Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and George Harrison’s widow Olivia.
“We’re all here for Johnny’s birthday and the big light,” Starr said. “I love the light.”
The tower is a beam of light radiating from a wishing well, which is engraved with the words “imagine peace” in 24 languages.
Nu-Metal band Korn have announced their first tour of the UK for more than six years, with dates across the country in early 2008.
Here are the dates:
13/01/2008 – Ambassador Theatre, Dublin
16/01/2008 – Carling Academy, Newcastle
17/01/2008 – Carling Academy, Glasgow
19/01/2008 – Apollo, Manchester
20/01/2008 – Carling Academy, Birmingham
22/01/2008 – Pavilions, Plymouth
23/01/2008 – Cardiff International Arena
25/01/2008 – Carling Academy, Brixton
The London date of the Spice Girls reunion tour sold out in 38 seconds after fans were notified tickets had gone on sale, according to the show’s promoters.
More than one million people in the UK registered for the concert, which takes place on 15 December at the O2 arena.
In another dramatic development for the music industry “The Charlatans” plan to make their 10th album available for free download.
The album, currently untitled, will be available in its entirety as a free download from radio station XFM’s website early in the New Year. The first release is “You Cross My Path”, which will be available for download on 22nd October.
Creation Records founder and manager of The Charlatans, Alan McGee, said: “We were really excited when XFM got behind us and were as enthusiastic about the download as we are – they are the first people to embrace music for the people. The band will get paid by more people coming to gigs, buying merchandise, publishing and synch fees. I believe it’s the future business model.”
