Added 10/03/2010 by ronni

Pink Floyd take EMI to court

Rock band Pink Floyd have launched legal action against record label EMI over payment of online royalties and the marketing of their music.

The group, signed to EMI since 1967, are disputing the way payments for their digital sales are calculated.

They are also seeking a ruling on whether the label can sell individual tracks from their original albums.

Pink Floyd did not appear at the first hearing of what is expected to be a lengthy case.

Their lawyer, Robert Howe QC, told the court that the musicians wanted "to know where they stand as a matter of contract".

Mr Howe said EMI contend that the sale of individual tracks from albums "only applies to the physical product and does not apply online".

He added that the practice "makes no commercial sense" and contravenes agreements signed by both parties.

Pink Floyd's back catalogue is the most lucrative in pop music apart from that of The Beatles.

according to BBC

Added 09/03/2010 by ronni

Wildbirds & Peacedrums European May tour

Sweden’s exhilarating duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums have lost no time in greeting the new decade with a fevered burst of creative energy. New decade, new direction.

Announcing a European tour for May 2010, vocalist Mariam Wallentin and percussionist Andreas Werliin will be performing new material at the shows, backed by a full choir. The new songs will be premiered at the Pavement-curated ATP Festival in May (full dates below).

Currently supporting St Vincent on tour in the US, the band rehearsed, recorded and mixed two new bodies of work in 10 days in Iceland at the end of January, around a theme of water.

The new recordings will be released as two limited edition vinyl EPs, to be combined later on CD and digital download. The first release will accompany the May tour dates. More details to follow.

European tour dates:

Friday 14 May ATP Festival, Minehead, UK
Saturday 15 May Bishopsgate Institute, London, UK
Sunday 16 May Café De La Danse, Paris, France
Monday 17 May Dampfzentrale, Basel, Switzerland
Tuesday 19 May Babel, Malmö, Sweden
Wednesday 20 May Jazzhouse, Copenhagen, Denmark
Thursday 21 May Blå, Oslo, Norway
Friday 22 May Södra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden

Added 08/03/2010 by ronni

Live Nation double ticket price for Lady Gaga in UK

Lady Gaga has announced three more dates for the UK leg of her Monster Ball tour, but some tickets have nearly doubled in price.

The lavish tour kicked off in Manchester last month, when tickets cost between £27.50 and £35.

However, the extra dates, which have been organised by a different promoter, are priced between £50 and £75.

'Comparable and fair'

Lady Gaga has already revamped her stage production once - scrapping her entire US show and retooling it for the UK at a reported cost of £2m.

Arthur Fogel, chairman of global touring at Live Nation, said: "What was a small arena/theatre production is now a massive, first rate arena production.

"Ticket prices for the previous dates were set long before the current Monster Ball show was developed. Ticket prices are comparable and fair."

The Live Nation website said the tour had been extended due to "overwhelming response". Tickets go on sale on 12 March.

The Brit-Award winner, known for hits such Paparazzi and Just Dance, will play Birmingham, London and Manchester in May and June - in the same venues she has already visited on the current leg of the tour.

According to BBC