Cool Britannia

Franz Ferdinand, Robbie Williams and Coldplay are now members of the FAC.  This group lobbies to propose that artists have and keep all rights to the music they create, have a say in how their music is sold and that artists have higher earnings.

Today this is not common. Unfortunately, to many artists’ dismay, many recording rights belong solely to record labels. The 700+ members that make up the FAC want to see change, maybe with the bigger names joining board this is possible.

Instead of the labels owning all rights, musicians want to lease the rights to music labels or other business partners appropriate at the time.

Other member include Annie Lennox, Klaxons, Kaiser Chiefs and Jools Holland.

The meetings of this group come after the rapid downfall of the music industry. With so much illegal downloading, artist see next to no revenue from album and single sales.  The FAC wants to encourage acts to exploit revenue streams like sponosorship and live music events or appearances.

Artists are upset that labels make money off new technologies like ringtones with Nokia and they see no profit from it.

Radiohead guitarist, Ed O’Brien and FAC board member explained, “The music companies had us by the short and curlies.  This isn’t about revenge, but now we have to take responsibilitiy for ourselves.”

Promoters are rumored to have offered millions for various festivals to reunite The Libertines. Pete Doherty was keen to the idea, but apparently Carl Barat has other ideas for his future.

Barat told BBC 6Music he was not considering reuniting the band. “I’ve just freed myself up so the last thing I wanna do is completely burden my mind.”

Barat is more concerned about his acting career. “I got into it (acting) doing that film thing with ‘Telstar,’ the Joe Meek biopic,” Barat said. “I’ve got another thing coming up-I think there’s room in my life for both (music and acting).”

He is also considering a solo album.  Barat is scheduled to play a solo gig at Wakefield’s Escobar on Mach 7.

Hunky lead singer, Matt Bellamy, or Muse told fans on the band’s official forum that he once found a crazed admirer in his hotel room.

During the band’s 2001 “Origin of Symmetry” Tour, Bellamy got a shock in Paris.

“I woke up in a hotel room in Paris only to find an avid femal fan of the band sat on the end of my bed,” he said. “Her vibe could only be described as clammy. I was as polite as possible of course.”

Honestly, can we blame her?

Although one band member is preventing a reunion of the original line-up, Sony is re-releasing the Stone Rose’s self-titled debut.

The Manchester band was a huge part of the shoegazing movement.  Many artists, including The Verve and Oasis, name The Stone Roses as their influnence.

The deluxe-boxed set will be available in June and was remastered by the original producer, John Leckie.

The only other Stone Roses album, “The Second Coming,” was released in 1996 to mixed reviews.

Noel Gallagher is all over the papers and Internet saying the people would vote him in as Prime Minister of Britain.

What a brilliant idea! Could you imagine what England would be like if Noel Gallagher was in charge?

Blur, Kaiser Chief, Jay Z and Robbie Williams albums would be banned.

Free speech would be more acceptable. Gallagher is not afraid to say what is on his mind, however he exactly thinks it. He’d be the first prime minister to say “f*ck” and “arse” in a speech. He wouldn’t cover up anything, in fact if he thought policies were shiite, I believe he’d go out and say it.

At least he’s the Gallagher brother that stays on top of politics. He has a good idea about what needs change, and although he is in no way middle class by any means he likes to pretend he is. I’ll give him that he doesn’t act like a posh millionaire, he’s extremely down to earth. Unfortunately his estimated $25 million knocks him officially out of the category.

He was even BFFs with Tony Blair.

I’ll design the flyers Noel Gallagher for PM!

I won’t lie, I didn’t watch. Although with all the drama surrounding it, I half wish I did. However, here are a list of the winners (well the awards I would care about at least )

Album of the Year: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Raising Sand

Record of the Year:  Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: “Please Read the Letter”

Song of the Year: Coldplay- “Viva La Vida”

Best New Artist: Adele

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Adele: “Chasing Pavements”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: John Mayer: “Say”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals:  Coldplay: “Viva La Vida”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: “Rich Woman”

Best Dance Recording: Daft Punk: “Harder Better Faster Stronger”

Best Electronic/Dance Album: Daft Punk: Alive 2007

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: John Mayer: Gravity (Where the Light Is: live in LA)

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals:  Kings of Leon: “Sex on Fire”

Best Hard Rock Performance: The Mars Volta: “Wax Simulacra”

Best Metal Performance: Metallica: “My Apocalypse”

Best Rock Song: Bruce Springsteen: “Girls in Their Summer Clothes”

Best Rock Album: Coldplay: “Viva La Vida or Death of All His Friends”

Best Alternative Music Album: Radiohead: “In Rainbows”

Out of pure honesty I do not agree with some of the other songs and am absolutely disgusted with some of the songs nominated for other categories. As much as I like “Lollipop” that is in no way any song that should win a GRAMMY. It’s quite disgusting actually.

Robbie Williams is making his way back into the music world. Not only is the former Take That member rumored to make an appearance with his former bandmates, but Williams is planning to hit the studio in March or April.

The follow-up to 2007’s “Rudebox” is rumored to have songs with former song-partner, Guy Chambers as well as a unique collaboration with producer, Mark Ronson.

Williams has been writing new material since last year, according to The Guardian.  No producer has been chosen but his manager assures Williams is in talks with many “interesting people.”

Joining the trend of fellow artists such as Lily Allen and Supergrass, this is Williams’ last album with EMI.

I try to ignore the fact Luke Pritchard from The Kooks is allegidly dating Mischa Barton because I secretly lose respect for him. However, it does not effect my love for his musical talent.

As a side project Pritchard is joining the French Band The Dø to record cover songs.  Pritchard told NME that the covers will probably be released in France on white label.  One song the band plans to cover is “I Won’t Hurt You” by The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band.

“I want to do it a bit like, trashy ‘The Velvet Underground And Nico’ kind of vibe,” Pritchard explained. “We’re going to try and get a vibe and get a sound in the room and not over-complicate things with the production.”

“We’re just going to do covers. If we have time to write anything we might, but I don’t think so. We’ll just see how it goes,” he said.

According to a poll conducted of 1500 British residents
The top 10 Britain’s Moodiest Celeb are:

1 Heather Mills
2 Naomi Campbell
3 Victoria Beckham
4 Pete Doherty
5 Noel Gallagher
6 Amy Winehouse
7 MP John Prescott
8 Chris Martin
9 Jack Dee
10 Anne Robinson

Glasvegas won Xfm’s New Music Award for best debut album of 2008.

The band was nominated by listener’s poll to find the best debut albums of the year.  The nominees were judged by Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Peter Hook (New Order), John Leckie (Radiohead producer), Matthew Horne (Gavin and Stacey actor) and Carl Barat (Dirty Pretty Things, The Libertines).

“It’s a first class debut album in that it is memorable, passionate and well formed,” Leckie said.

“Every track is a winner, leaves you wanting more and wondering what will come next. I wish I’d produced it,” he added.