BBC Radio 1's In New Music We Trust list to form part of main playlist
BBC Radio 1 is phasing out its In New Music We Trust (INMWT) initiative onto its main playlist in line with the launch of the Radio 1 Specialist Chart With Phil Taggart, which launched on Monday. The Specialist Chart is a bite-size digest of the world's hottest tracks, compiled by combining the songs most loved by specialist presenters and listeners. It is also adding two spaces to the C list to provide additional elbow room for new material crossing over from specialist. The Specialist Chart will be published with the Radio 1 Playlist each week. A Radio 1 spokesman said the move was being made in reponse to young people's changing listening habits, showcasing the best of sspecialist music where early-adopting users are most likely to search for it – on their phone. In addition, it will give greater impact to the new tracks and artists that end up being added to the main Radio 1 playlist. At last month's MUSEXPO Europe, Radio 1 and 1Xtra controller Ben Cooper revealed details of 25 hour-long downloadable ‘phone first’ music playlists a week for Radio 1 and 1Xtra. (Music Week)
Sainsbury's to stock vinyl in dozens more stores
Sainsbury’s will sell vinyl records in 67 more stores across the country. Records will now be available permanently in 238 stores and the range will be tripled from 20 to 60 titles. The new collection will launch in store on October 14 and will include a mix of contemporary and classic records along with seven exclusive titles. Sainsbury’s began selling vinyl in March this year for the first time since the 1980s and has sold more than 81,000 records to date, with the best performing album, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, selling 5,500 units so far. The new collection includes Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here and David Bowie Blackstar in addition to limited edition coloured vinyl exclusives such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Welcome to The Pleasure Dome, Madonna, Like a Prayer and Jethro Tull, Aqua Lung. From October 21, Sainsbury’s will also be taking an exclusive silver coloured edition of Michael Buble’s new album Nobody But Me.
Foo Fighters lawsuit over cancelled shows dismissed
Foo Fighters have settled lawsuit relating to a series of cancelled concerts during the band’s 2015 world tour. A US District Judge has ordered a dismissal with prejudice of the two-part complaint, against several Lloyd’s of London insurers and insurance broker Robertson Taylor, among others. Terms were not disclosed. The band had accused the defendants of colluding to reduce payments after the band was forced to cancel several shows when frontman Dave Grohl broke his leg during a show in Sweden in June 2015. Grohl’s injury resulted in seven cancellations, but the complaint regarded only three concerts: two at London’s Wembley Stadium and a third at BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. (Billboard)
Giddings honoured for Outstanding Contribution
Solo Agency MD John Giddings received the Outstanding Contribution award at last night's Live Music Business Awards. Isle Of Wight Festival promoter Giddings received the award from one of his clients, Sharon Corr. Video messages were also played from Iggy Pop and Pharrell Williams. Giddings also claimed the Best Festival (cap. 40,000+) award at the event, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in London's West End. Other winners included SJM Concerts, which took National Promoter Of The Year and Artist Manager Of The Year for Simon Moran, Conrad Murray and Dave Salmon, who represent acts such as The Stone Roses, Courteeners and Blossoms. ITB's Steve Zapp, who represents Biffy Clyro and Courteeners, took the Agent Of The Year prize. DHP's Splendour and DotToDot festivals both claimed awards, while its Oslo Hackney space won Best Venue Teamwork: Club. London's The O2 took the arena gong and Cato Music's Glen Rowe was named Tour Manager Of The Year for his work with Muse. The awards were preceded by the Live UK Summit at the same venue.
Acts come forward for Fightback
Everything Everything, Public Service Broadcasting, Ed Harcourt and Jake Isaac are among the confirmed acts for the Music Venue Trust 's Fightback festival at Roundhouse on Tuesday, October 18. The charity had appealed for acts to come forward for the one-off evening of music in a bid to raise funds to stop music venue closures across the country. Tickets cost £10.
Four pop superstars join MTV EMAs line-up
Shawn Mendes, DNCE, Lukas Graham and Zara Larsson have joined Bruno Mars on the bill for this year's MTV EMAs. The event takes place at Ahoy Rotterdam on Sunday, November 6.
AEG Facilities to run new Puerto Rico venue
AEG and PRISA Group have entered into a contract for AEG Facilities to undertake the management and operation of a new 6,000-capacity venue being developed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, set to open in early 2019. When completed, the facility will host a variety of events, concerts, banquets, festivals, award ceremonies and corporate events while serving as the anchor of District Live!, a five-acre hospitality and entertainment district being built by a partnership between Island Hospitality Partners (led by PRISA Group with the Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority.
