Fisher's Copyright

Matthew Fisher, an organist from the British psychedelic group Procol Harum had returned himself the copyright to one of the band’s most famous songs Whiter Shade of Pale, said BBC. According to the House of Lords rule, the highest court in Britain, Fisher should own fourty percent of the original copyright. Fisher’s court struggle was going on since 2006, when he began to insist on the fact that his organ part in a song should be appreciated and valued according to his terms. The court took Fisher’s side, but later Procol’s vocalist Gary Brooker and the author Keith Reid have appealed it’s decision, so things began to hang in the air. Organist kept on saying that his part of a song is ‘the main crop’, and he surely deserves some positive feedback. Whiter Shade of Pale is the first and most successful single that was ever produced by the band; in 1967 during six weeks this song was staying on the first spot within the British major hits list. In the US it went up to the fifth spot. Procol Harum had tried to repeat this incredible success in the later years, but this kind of magic did not happen again. In 2004 Matthew Fisher had left the band and currently works as the computer programmer.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Is She Moving Back?

American pop singer Madonna had recorded a song about her ex-husband, famous movie director Guy Ritchie. As ContactMusic notes, in a new song she calls him to be “the eternal love”, not more not less. It all means that their breaking up was caused by his wishes, not Madonna’s, but currently all of this belongs to rumours only, so it’s too early to make any conclusions. It was reported that a nameless song so far, includes some lyrics about a pair in love, which separetes and later re-unites again. This curious information gave a root to a lot of speculations about the fact that Madonna is planning to start it all again with Ritchie. After all who knows, maybe there is some sentimental thing going on between them two, but most likely these talks shall not come true, even if she still feels something towards the guy. Their marriage was cancelled on November 21, 2008 after eight years of living together in a relative happiness. Some say that their difference in age turned to be the driving factor behind this separation, but no one really knows it for sure. There is another interesting fact that Madonna trully respects Ritchie as a person, and people say that there are not too many people whom she trully respects like this.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Blocked At The Stadium

Dublin commuters have organized a samll street rally against the group of technicians who support and professionally maintain the U2 world tour, said AP. Certainly without these guys the band shall not be able to perform or even move out from their studio, so those practically silly protesters are hitting at the right place. During the last weekend this legendary band gave three concerts in their hometown at the Croke Park. After the concert technicians spent the whole night by moving sound equipment, the stage, which totally weighs 390 tons and all other things that correspond it. All this complicated stage equipment will be going to Göteborg (Sweden) where the band plans it’s next performance. These operations were co-ordinated with the local authorities, but the noise was so big that dwellers simply got angry. In the morning people have blocked an exit pathway from the stadium, and finally technicians did not arrive on time at the sea port. They just had to say goodbye to their ferry, and that was the will of ‘them’ Dubliners. Later the crowd decided to let some equipment trailers out, so Sweden is going to see U2, even though with some delay. As the U2 management says, Dubliners have interrupted the tour schedule, but it’s too early to proclaim the next venue cancelled.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

How May People Are Doing It?

Nearly two thirds off all Internet users have confessed that they’ve been downloading music illegally at least during last three months, said Torrent Freak relating this news to the analysts from Interpret. This news contains the real situation that is taking place within the music industry, Internet and music lovers. Interpret’s study included sixty four million people; 36% or twenty four million people are actually downloading music for free. A little less than a half of them believes that the music they’re getting on the Internet should be much cheaper than on CDs. Practically, it means that record companies and ‘restriction institutions’ don’t really have power over them, music is getting in and out despite all their tries to stop it. After all, Internet is so democratic and even slightly limitless in it’s core that in order to make it more restrictive things should get way beyond modern laws. Such laws exist in countries like North Korea were people have problems with electricity supplies and don’t have computers, but for example  in countries like US controlling the Internet will not be so easy. Temptation of getting music for free is absolutely all powerful, and people will always have a desire to get something online without going into their pockets.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Apple Makes Deals

Apple and the world’s leading record labels are currently working under the project called Coctail, which possesses the aim of selling music on iTunes, said The Financial Times. Well, this news looks quite obvious and seems to be very usual because what else those big companies can do when it comes down to selling music. Large record companies have certain designated places online where they would like to sell music, so things like Pirate Bay don’t have a chance. Coctail should start in September and will include EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Muisc, practically all of those from a big stash. As Apple plans, after the Coctail project begins iTunes should double it’s sales almost immediately, and at the same time they’re promising that prices will not go up. They say that sales will rise due to the usage of a lot of new interactive services that will be implemented into their selling strategies. In March 2008 it became known that Apple is taking care of some business talks with the above mentioned record labels. It was also rumoured that it may turn into the most successful deal that had ever happened in the world of online music marketing techniques. In order to make things sound more simple it should be said that it’s just another way to make people buy music legally.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

The Hall Of Performances

Twenty fifth anniversary of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame is going to be marked with the grand show, which will include a numerous number of musicians who in various years were welcomed by the Hall. Organisers are planning something absolutely out of this world because according to them everything what was taking place before was not good enough. After all, this is right, this organization or better to say a club had never created something absolutely stunning on stage, something on the level of Woodstock. This year’s show shall not welcome as many people, but those who will get out on stage over there are definitely going to leave certain mark on the history of live performances. As the Billboard noted here is the scatch list of those who are about to arrive: U2, Metallica, Crosby, Stills & Nash, soul singer Aretha Franklin (recently she had decided to take a break, but made an astonishing exclusion for the Hall), Stevie Wonder, Simon & Garfunkel, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen with his band The E Street Band. One of the best rock n’ roll artists in the history of music. Also, New Musical Express had found some uncertain information that Sir Paul McCartney and The Eagles may be participating on this historical show.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Sylvian Hits It Back

Ex-vocalist of the British new wave band Japan David Sylvian had finished working with his new solo album. This talented musician is famous for the variety of experiments with music and particularly new sounds that may be classified as part of the new age. His official web site says that “Manafon” is going to come out on September 14. Another cool record that may be interesting to those who worth experimental and chill out sound. Besides regular release fans should see the double CD version, which is going to include a documentary called “Amplified Gesture” that tells about how this album was made. As DavidSylvian.net notes, “Manafon” which contains nine tracks was recorded in Vienna, London and Tokyo. A song “Small Metal Gods” is seen as the possible first single and if everything goes smooth it may reach certain number on the British music charts. Obviously David Sylvian was not the only person to produce this record, particularly here is the short list of those who were built into the process: Christian Fennesz, guitarist Keith Rowe, Japanese electronic musicians Sachiko Matsubara and Otomo Yoshihide, saxophonist Evan Parker, pianist John Tilbury and members of the Austrian band Polwechsel. In other words it seems like something big, so those who worth this kind of music don’t miss to follow it all.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Kazaa Is Back

Brilliant Digital Entertainment had resurrected the long forgotten file sharing network Kazaa, said The Sydney Morning Herald. Now this service is going to allow absolutely legal downloading, but this time for the monthly payment. For twenty dollars a month user may keep on downloading without any limits, and it looks like this particular option will be the most popular. After all, it’s nice to see Kazaa back, even if they’re not standing here for free anymore. Currently users of the new Kazaa version can exist only in the US, but soon it’s going to be available in Australia as well. Most likely their new service will be extended and in the nearest future it’s going to be available all around the world. Also, together with Kazaa users will be allowed to pay their phone bills too. Great idea and at the same time it’s probably why they start doing it only in US right now, hence such complicated thing is hard to get implemented in other countries due to local billing regulations. All Kazaa files should be available in WMA format and as BDE representatives say, they’ve already received all sorts of help from big and small record labels. Totally Kazaa music library contains one million files, so if you live in US or Australia get ready to download.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Cheese For Music

Blur bass guitarist Alex James is about to establish his own brand of cheese, which is going to be advertised with the help of Duchy Originals company. The best part about it is that this firm belongs to Prince Charles himself, said Gigwise. This new cheese will be created out of milk produced by some unique breed of cows from Ayrshire, Scotland. Absolutely stunning news from Blur, and again it proves the fact that if one is talented in one thing then he or she will be talented in anything else. Each pack of Blur’s cheese should go for three pounds, so practically anyone will be able to afford it, noted James. It’s not the first time when this guy began to deal with “cheese industry”, it all started way back in 2003 when the band had stopped touring and recording albums. By the end of 2008 James has invented a cheese called Little Wallop, which soon was awarded with the silver medal on the annual world’s best cheese contest. Besides making a product for Prince Charles’s company, James is also working on creating another one – Blue Monday. This future brand of cheese was called like that in dedication to New Order’s infamous song. Well, cheese is great, maybe not less great than music itself.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Pearl Jam Goes With "Backspacer"

Legendary American rock band Pearl Jam is beginning to accept pre-orders on their ninth brand new album “Backspacer”. Those who have moved the grunge scene along with Nirvana stayed a little bit silent for a certain period of time, and right now they’re coming back, hopefully with something epic again. Currently it’s possible to visit their official web site and purchase a CD for 13,99$ or for those who worth retro things attain a vinyl piece for 19,98$. Besides that a vinyl version contains the first single from the album “The Fixer” (additional 5,99$). A lot of musicians and particularly defenders of the ‘real music’ just love vinyl stuff. Possibly due to their activity it even created some little comeback during the last year, and certainly Pearl Jam moves along with it. CD’s and vinyls are going to be delivered to buyers on September 20, 2009, which is the official release date. “The Fixer” was already presented by Pearl Jam on the Fox Channel, but it’s still not coming out until August 24. Generally speaking “Backspacer” is the first album which is being produced by the band without any record labels, so in order to distribute it they’re using small music stores and one big American retail store Target. In the rest of the world the album will be spread by Universal Music.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Amy Calls It Quits

Popular British retro-soul singer Amy Winehouse has divorced her husband Blake Fielder-Civil, said BBC News on July 16. Following the given information, the whole process of separation took only a few minutes, so making it pretty easy case of it. Fielder-Civil had pleaded for divorce in the midst of January 2009 motivating it by a presumable cheating on Winehouse’s side. During that exact time it also became know that the owner of five “Grammy’s” is staying at Caribbean island of St. Lucia together with so far unknown actor Josh Bowman. While recently Winehouse was answering various questions regarding this issue, she kept on underlining the fact that it’s better not to think about her relationship with Fielder-Civil at all. “Blake was exactly like me. We were doing drugs together. But when I’m with Josh I don’t need any stimulating substances”, noted Winehouse. Despite the fact that during the last winter she had stopped taking drugs, she still could not beat her drinking habit. This girl is not planning to settle down in the nearest future, even though some of her worst addictions may be slowing down. Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil have met in one of the London pubs in 2005, and soon after fell into a lot of legal troubles.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Switching Roles

Actress Emma Watson famous for her role of Hermiona Granger in “Harry Potter” is planning to act in Marilyn Manson’s show, which is now being directed by this eccentric rock musician, said Monsters and Critics. The project is going to look like the gothic version of “Cinderella”, and for sure it will look awesome if MM does his director’s job properly. After all, he is not doing what he was used to do, it’s totally new for the guy, but let’s hope things turn out good for him. As the unnamed source close to Watson had recently said, she wants to demonstrate that her image can go further than what became typical of her after “Harry Potter”, she simply want’s to be known somewhere else too. “She’s saw how Daniel Radcliffe managed to branch out into something completely different when he starred in ‘Equus’ and thinks this could do the same for her,” added a source. In one of her latest interviews, Watson had confessed that she really wishes to continue her acting career. In the upcoming time she may accept offers to participate in the projects that will arouse as much enthusiasm as “Harry Potter”.  Many other sources keep on telling that Watson also plans to go to college/university, but it’s not known where, so let’s wait to see it.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Teaching Some Lesson

On Tuesday the American blogger who in June 2008 stole all nine Guns N’Roses  songs from their new album “Chinese Democracy” was sentenced for one year on probation, said Associated Press. According to the decision made by Los Angeles Federal judge, Kevin Cogill will spend two months under the house arrest and will give up all his computers for check. Besides that, blogger had promised to produce a video for the Recording Industry Association of America were he is going to call for the online anti-piracy actions, notes Wired.com. Absolutely hard and difficult for someone who was doing something totally opposite, but in order to escape jail he will do even this thing. A twenty-eight years old Cogill had presumably understood his wrongdoing and began to co-operate with RIAA in December 2008, so they’ve dropped the orginal claim that could force him to pay three hundred seventy one thousand dollars. Prosecutor was insisting on some real jail time, but the judge has come to a conclusion that a young man had already ‘learned some lesson’. Surely, this decision is very mild and nice, seems to be extremely liberal, but fare because it’s still not forth of isolating someone for music. Even if it looks bad, jail sentence for stealing music should be replaced with some moral or ethical blame.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Sometimes It Breaks

Canadian musician Dave Carroll who had recently accused United Airlines of damaging his precious guitar, has recorded a song about this incident and placed it on YouTube, said Agence France-Presse. As Caroll says, in 2008 him and his band have departured from Halifax (Canada) to Nebraska (US), everything was allright, but during their short stay at the O’Hara airport in Chicago they’ve witnessed the way loaders were handling his instruments. When musician had received his guitar back it turned to be broken. Eventually he was trying to sue the company, but things just turned against him and he was left without money. Carroll’s guitar is worth of three thousand dollars and seems to be quite cool if he can’t forget that day. Actually, any musician would get angry, especially if that instrument means something special. No money for the damage make things lool twice as worse. The first song which is now available on YouTube is called “United Breaks Guitars”, which tells the whole story. Those who are getting under the fire are loaders and company representatives who keep on ignoring him. “I should have flown with someone else or gone by car,” sings Carroll. In his comments to this video Dave has noted that the second one is coming soon.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Plagiarism?

Producer and DJ Adam Freeland has started the legal procedure against Black Eyed Peas. Musician is sure of the fact that they’ve stolen his song “Mancry” and used it’s melody in their “Party All The Time”, which was released on the album “The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)”, said ContactMusic. Freeland had placed both melodies on his Twitter micro-blog in order to give his fans a chance to compare it and give their own opinion. It’s a typical misunderstanding between bands and musicians, who stole what or why such and such melody sounds so similar. Usually these debates end up in mutual disagreement and finally cease to exist because often they do sound similar, but there is no act of plagiarism too. Proves are scarce in situations like this one. At the same time scandalous blogger Perez Hilton who had recently sued Black Eyed Peas manager Polo Molina, insists that the band could hear Freeland’s song during his personal private party, which took place in 2008, before “The E.N.D.” came out.  In other words, lawyers are already talking, but there is nothing on when they will take these talks to court. Currently, Black Eyed Peas are getting for the grand world tour in support of the album mentioned above.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

The Road To Abbey

Abbey Road studio, which became legendary due to the fact that The Beatles used to rehearse and record over there, starts a new life. The whole idea behind their new project is to give young musicians a chance to co-operate with the Abbey Road’s experienced specialists. Sort of transferring an experience to those who wish to learn, or just stay in touch with the old rock n’ roll legends. Now their web site is saying that any band or musician can use studio’s online-mastering tricks. In order to get an access, one should register by filling out an application and send his demo to the Abbey Road specialists who will take a look at it. Pretty cool idea, but for some reason there is no clear information on whether it will be free or not. There is no doubt that many musicians would like to join this project, so money factor may play some role in this game. Abbey Road studio was founded in London in 1931 and in the beginning used to work exclusively with classic musicians, but later began to provide services to pop and rock n’ roll bands too. Particularly Abbey Road, which is now owned by the EMI records label had produced all twelve The Beatle’s albums. One of them was even called by it’s name - “Abbey Road”.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

The Last Rarity

Paul McCartney has finished working with John Lennon’s extremely rare song “Now And Then”, and in the nearest time plans to make it public, said ContactMusic. This song was written by John Lennon in 1978, but for some reason he was not able to record it before his death in 1980, so it existed only in the demo version. In 1995 Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono had decided to give this practically unknown record, plus some others including “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love” to his former bandmates while they were working with The Beatle’s “Anthology”. Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr have finished their parts in “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love”, and later included them into “The Beatles” album, but “Now And Then” remained unfinished due to some internal factions. During the last two years McCartney had finally ended up working with this song, also incorporating what was made up by the rest of his collegues. If “Now And Then” will see the light then it should be the first song since 1996 basically created by The Beatles, and practically the last rarity that still remains unreleased. “Real Love” which was part of the “Anthology” (1996) seemed to be the end line, but let’s wait for “Now And Then”.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

According To "Drum!" He Is The best

“Drum!” magazine had announced the list of those musicians who are going to get this year’s Drummie Awards. Their cool prize was founded by the magazine itself and is given out to the best drummers of the year. The lucky one who turned to be the best of the best is a Canadian drummer from Rush, Neil Peart. He just passed by everybody and according to “Drum!” has deserved to get the highest prize they can offer to him. Also, Peart had received the title “of the best progressive rock drummer”, and therefore repeated his 2008 and 2007 success, when he was awarded with “the best live performance” and “the best drummer of the year”. In other words, “Drum!” loves this guy, so they just can’t stop giving him one award after another. Well, Peart is trully one of the most influential drummers, extremely talented and surely deserves a lot of respect. In 2007 this magazine gave him five Drummie Awards, probably beating everyone else’s records. Besides that, “Drum!” granted him with one more “the coolest live performance” award and particularly his work with the album “Snakes & Arrows”, actually another Rush’s masterpiece. The whole list of the Drummie Awards 2009 nominations is going to be available in the magazine’s August issue.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Two Awards

Famous pop group Take That was recently granted with the second Silver Clef Award in their history, said BBC News. Therefore, they’ve turned to be more successful (of course, in terms of getting this award only) than Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones, which have received Silver Clef just once. The first award was given to the band way back in 1995, only a few months before Robbie Williams has left them in order to start his absolutely smashing solo career. Why this award’s organisers like Take That so much is not very clear though, and why such monsters of music as The Rolling Stones and Sir Paul were left behind them is even more strange. However, Take That is not without a talent, and definitely they deserve certain amount of respect. After all, musicians like McCartney are surely way above them, and their fame is dwelling on the higher level, on the level of history. Take That is not that huge, so maybe that’s the reason why they deserve to have more awards of this sort. Silver Clef Award was founded by the Nordoff-Robbins charity foundation and is traditionally given out annually to all kinds of musicians including such bands as Take That. During this year’s ceremony there was an auction, which enabled Silver Clef’s organisers to collect up to 400 thousand pounds. Surely, not without Take That’s help.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Another Big Sale

Infamous Christie’s auction house, for recently able to sell John Lennon’s guitar for more than 240 thousand euros, said The Guardian on Thursday, June 2. In the beginning auction’s organizers were showing some interest in selling it for 100–150 euros, but the interest for this lot just grew out of any expected proportions. Practically, it’s not about the price, but it’s about the one who was using it, so all these huge costs seem to be slightly off track. Why just selling it all, selling it all the time while thinking only about prices, lots and other ‘down to earth’ miserable things, when musician’s art matters the most? Neil Roberts, auction’s manager who is specializing on selling of items that deal with pop/rock culture said that on the day when they’ve put on sale Lennon’s guitar, his firm was literally attacked with phone calls, emails and visitors. This guitar turned to be a spectacle among thousands of fans. As historians believe, Lennon had purchased 1958 Hofner Senator in one of the Liverpool’s music stores and used it primarily at home. Auction’s lot also included George Harrison’s letter in which he is saying that Hofner Senator was one of Lennon’s first guitars. Possibly this fact was the major force that drew fans into buying it.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Who Is The Winner?

American Federal court has ruled out that the World Wide Video company possesses no rights to John Lennon’s rare footages made in February 1970, and gave these rights to his widow Yoko Ono, said Associated Press. Ten hours video content was filmed by Ono’s first husband Anthony Cox in London at Lennon’s house during three whole days. This material includes terrific moments when Lennon is playing piano, smokes weed, and jokes about giving Richard Nixon a cup of tea with LSD. Seriously, why this stuff should belong to some strange video company, when it morally and even historically must be owned by Yoko. It’s worth of noticing that recently she is winning nearly every case that deals with Lennon’s heritage, sometimes this may look slightly unfair when McCartney or Ringo are losing these cases, but right now it seems to be absolutely fair. World Wide Video representatives have gained the copyright for 125 thousand dollars from Cox himself (originally the price went up to one million, so they’ve planned to use these money to make a documentary called “3 Days in the Life”). However, after a public demonstration of some parts of this unique footage, the WWV company was immediately contacted by Ono’s lawyers. The result was her total victory.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com