Music News Bulletin - 16/01/09

Legal free music service We7 has signed a deal with leading independent music label group, Beggars.
"The deal will allow We7 users access to around 20,000 tracks from Beggars’ catalogue. The tracks will be available on demand, for free, ad-funded streaming and users will also be able to buy them from the We7 online store in high-quality MP3 format.

We7 has music from all four major labels as well as hundreds of independents through deals with distributors including PIAS, The Orchard, Finetunes, InGrooves, Iris and Believe, with individual labels and now Beggars Group.

"Discussions with Beggars, and Simon Wheeler in particular, on digital music in the early days of We7, were both illuminating and significant to the development of our business,” says We7 CEO Steve Purdham. “As such, it is a great honour, to be able to sign a deal with such an influential label group, and to be able to offer our users access to their incredible music catalogue."" [MusicWeek]

One Little Indian/FatCat sign deal with PIAS
"One Little Indian and FatCat records are pleased to announce finalising a new deal with PIAS, who will be taking on UK-wide distribution for all new releases and back catalogue.

Renowned indie institution One Little Indian is currently home to Icelandic leftfield superstar Björk, collaborative ‘The Fireman’ project from Beatles legend Paul McCartney and cult producer Youth. Also of note is acclaimed singer-songwriter Jesse Malin, who has recorded with QOTSA front man Josh Homme and Bruce Springsteen amongst others.-
Since its inception in 1985 One Little Indian has always prided itself on working with artists it feels deserve a wider audience; musicians who make music for the simple pleasure of doing so – passionate about their craft and refreshingly free of pretence." [RecordOfTheDay]

New State ties up distribution deal
"Label group New State Entertainment has become the latest former Pinnacle client to sign a new distribution deal, putting pen to paper with EMI. The deal will cover the company’s physical distribution in the UK. New State will continue to handle its own label digital distribution and New State Digital aggregation business. New State co-director Tim Binns explains, “When Pinnacle went into administration it was a real shock and we had to move fast to tie up a deal for our 2009 and beyond release schedule." [MusicWeek]

Stock crisis for indie labels in warehouse war: “Unlawful” legal threat by Pinnacle creditor denies labels half their stock
"Independent label bosses pulling their hair out in frustration at the slowness of repatriating their stock from Pinnacle have been hit with another shock, after a warehouse landlord threatened to withhold millions of pounds worth of product because he is a major creditor of Pinnacle.

The move is a terrible blow for some companies, who are reporting that as much as half their stock is still held in Pinnacle’s four warehouses, more than a month after the distributor collapsed. Just before Pinnacle went under it held around 8m units of stock, with the majority thought to be at its Teardrop Centre in Swanley, Kent. However, it is now understood the landlord of that complex is owed £50,000 by the distributor and has attempted to put a lien on the stock until payment is made." [MusicWeek]

Anger at more Pinnacle delays and landlord stock claims

"With numerous indie labels increasingly frustrated that they have CDs they could and should be selling locked in the warehouses of defunct distributor Pinnacle, there is anger at the news the landlords of one of those warehouses are trying to claim ownership of some of their stock in lieu of fifty grand of rent they are owed by the collapsed firm.

Many labels are still having to wait to get CDs back, even though they technically own the stock. There are both legal and logistical reasons for the delays - one big problem is that staff who knew their way around the warehouses are long gone so even when labels have permission to get their CDs it's hard for the skeleton staff who remain at Pinnacle bases to find them." [CMUDaily]