IMC MUSIC WORLD NEWS     The weekly music news bulletin of the International Music Council Produced by the International Music Council with the collaboration of the Music Council of Australia   Music World News is emailed to subscribers every week free of charge. It reaches more than 70 countries on all five continents. TO REGISTER, click here. To get access to the news stories, you must complete a very simple registration process. TO UNREGISTER, please click on the "reply" button with the words "unsubscribe" written on the top of the BODY TEXT. TO SUBMIT A NEWS STORY, click here. TO VIEW LAST WEEKS MUSIC WORLD NEWS, click here. SELECT YOUR PREFERRED LANGUAGE by clicking on the appropriate flag. All text available in that language will appear in that language. All text not available in that language will show in English or the language in which received. TO READ FULL DETAILS OF ANY STORY BELOW. To the side of each title, flags show the language in which the story is available. Click on your flag of choice. You will be taken to the story or to a hyperlink that takes you to the story. This bulletin can be read at any time by visiting http://www.mca.org.au/mwn_bulletin.php. CONTENTS. Music World News is divided into these sections. Scroll through or, if you wish, click on one of the sections to be taken straight to those stories. Music the artform and artists Music the industry Policy, research and politics Music education Technologies and media The rest

Posted: 21-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

The phenomenon of new Argentinian composers

Source: La Nacion

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Funding fears

Arts and Business, the organisation that fosters links between the cultural and commercial worlds, today offers more depressing statistics on private-sector investment in the arts, which it says fell by 7% to £654.9m for the financial year 2008-9.

Source: The Guardian

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

'Too much freedom in the name of creative expression'

Declaring that Jamaica's music has died, producer Mikey Barnett says the Government needs to restrict freedom of expression if the society is to survive. "The Government has failed in its role to protect the society from itself - meaning artistes of today. There is too much freedom in the name of creative expression," Barnett told a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum.

Source: The Gleaner

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Where are all the women conductors?

A female conductor is still seen as such a novelty in the UK, yet one of our most internationally acclaimed maestros is a woman

Source: The Guardian

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Needed: A rethink of American orchestras

These are frustrating times for US symphonies

Source: Wall Street Journal

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Iran to take controversial symphony to Europe despite objections

The Tehran Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will perform the Peace and Friendship Symphony in five European countries despite objections by a number of prominent Iranian musicians.

Source: Mehr News Agency

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

When pop stars thwart classical publicity

Classical music gets criticism for not hitching its wagon to pop stars more often. When it does, you have to hope the most is made of the moment. But classical often works hard to parlay pop ties into a more accessible image - only to see those efforts come to naught.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Cameroon: The artist needs to improve his production

Source: Mutations

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Botswana: School children release album but lack cash

School children, Small Mavella, who have released their second album, are still struggling to get someone to sponsor them so they can get it printed.

Source: Mmegi

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Zimbabwe: Hip-Hop artistes to celebrate the Circle's anniversary

Local hip-hop artistes will, on January 30, converge at the Mannenberg for the third anniversary of The Circle, a platform for showcasing their talent.

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Peter McNamara is charged-up for composition glory

Aspiring Sydney composer Peter McNamara is leading the charge of a sequence of young composers as part of one of the biggest music development programs in Australian history.

Source: Music Council of Australia

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

Kenay: Singing their hearts out to President's ear

They were not our usual media celebrities, so when the seven Kenyans received the President's award, it was sweet music to their ears. Those who received the music awards at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture headquarters have contributed immensely to Kenya's music industry and culture.

Source: Daily Nation

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the artform and artists

The 72 hours of Hip Hop: an event to unite the mouvement

Source: Agence de presse sénégalaise

Posted: 26-01-2010 Music the industry

Music industry practitioners formulate plan to launch Caribbean trade network

The Caribbean Music Industry Networking Organization (CaMINO) saw its genesis on Wednesday, September 23 at the recently concluded CARIFORUM-EU EPA Workshop in Martinique; the Organization will seek to serve the interests of its members and by extension the wider community of stakeholders to which its members belong: the Caribbean Music Industry.

Source: Barbados Coalition of Service Industries

Posted: 26-01-2010 Music the industry

Glasgow City of Music Newsletter

Source: Glasgow UNESCO City of Music

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

DJ Hero ranks as highest grossing new IP

Activision Blizzard, Inc. announced that DJ Hero was the #1 new intellectual property by revenue in the U.S. and Europe for calendar 2009, according to The NPD Group.

Source: mi2n

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

Consolidated Independent and RoyaltyShare unveil strategic alliance

Consolidated Independent Ltd. (CI), the leading digital media platform for independent labels and distributors, and RoyaltyShare, Inc., the leader in Web-based digital revenue and royalty processing services, announced a multifaceted initiative aimed at providing independent record labels and distributors a seamless end-to-end solution for digital channel management.

Source: mi2n

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

International demand for sheet music propels Sheet Music Plus' overseas sales beyond 20 percent

Reflecting the timeless appeal of printed and bound sheet music in the digital age, Sheet Music Plus, the leading online provider of sheet music, announced its thriving global success. In 2009, the U.S.-based company experienced 22 percent overall international growth.

Source: mi2n

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

Online music piracy 'destroys local music'

Countries like Spain run the risk of becoming "cultural deserts" because of online file-sharing, the music industry has claimed.

Source: BBC News

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

Canadian Opera Co.'s new $12 'seats'

The Canadian Opera Company is kicking off its fourth season in the Four Seasons Centre with a real stand-up plan for increasing audience attendance: As of October, there will be 50 standing-room-only spaces available in the theatre, at the back of rings three and four, for just $12 — less than a movie ticket at most cinemas. Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2010/01/20/there-ll-be-no-choice-but-a-standing-ovation-for-those-in-the-coc-s-new-12-seats.aspx#ixzz0doHS8y8i The National Post is now on Facebook. Join our fan community today.

Source: National Post

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

Nigeria: Federal government should liberalise copyright industry - MCSN

Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to apply the same formula it used in liberalising the communication and broadcast industries in the copyright sector in other to realise the huge potentials in that sector for the benefit of both government and all stakeholders.

Source: Daily Independent

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

Nigeria: PMAN signs music distribution network deal

A turning point came the way of Nigerian musicians today when the leadership of the Performing Musicians Employers' Association of Nigeria (PMAN) signed a Music Distribution Network (MDN) deal with Lafrique Pro Media, a leading expert in tracking, management and Identification Technology; to put in place a formal distribution system for music products and international repertoires in Nigeria.

Source: Vanguard

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

Coldplay face new plagiarism fight

A songwriter is suing Coldplay in Los Angeles over claims the rock band copied three of his songs.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music the industry

Senegalese label Rock Entreprise to open a branch in Mauritania

Source: Walfadjri

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Northern Ireland: Arts Council invests in building arts infrastructure

Every person living in Northern Ireland now has access to a dedicated arts facility in their region thanks to an investment of £33 million by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Source: IFACCA

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

UK: Boost for live music as government announces plans to exempt small venues

Live music performances for 100 people or less will no longer need to be licensed, under proposals announced by Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe.

Source: IFACCA

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Morocco: Minister of Culture meets with a delegation from the alliance for Culture and the Arts

On Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at the Ministry in Rabat, Mr Bensalem Himmich the Minister of Culture met with a delegation from a coalition of Culture and Arts chaired by Mr. Mohamed Derham, which includes the president of the union of professional actors, Mr. Hassan Neffali, and some members of the Central organization representing a number of areas of artistic creation and culture.

Source: Ministère de la Culture du Maroc/IFACCA

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Cultural agenda of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union

The Minister of Culture, Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde, presented today at the headquarters of the European Council in Brussels a broad cultural agenda to be developed during the six months of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. The aim is to show the valuable and diverse cultural heritage of Spain, connected with modernity and innovation.

Source: IFACCA

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

India: A cultured do-it-now nudge

Indian PM stresses prompt action in bid to preserve and promote the arts

Source: The Telegraph (Calcutta)

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Malta: Arts Council agrees legislative changes are needed to protect creativity

The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts agrees with the need of legislative changes to ensure that the classification of creative works reflected the public's maturity and current realities.

Source: Times of Malta

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Spain approves anti-piracy legislation

The Spanish government approved anti-piracy legislation Friday that will allow National Audience, the country's federal court, to close or block websites facilitating unauthorized movie and music downloads.

Source: Variety

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Taiwan: Legislature passes law on culture and creativity

The Legislative Yuan passed the Cultural Creativity Act Jan. 8, requiring the government to promote the development of the arts through tax rebates, discounts and subsidies.

Source: Taiwan Today

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

UNESCO: Connecting culture and the people

Last September, after political infighting on a scale rarely seen at Unesco, Irina Bokova, 57, originally from Bulgaria, was elected as the first women to head the organisation. Last November she travelled to Egypt to rebuild connections with Farouk Hosni, her rival for the job. “The election is behind us, we have turned over a new leaf and I am very optimistic,” she told Le Monde.

Source: The Guardian

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Argentina: Cultural priorities for 2010

The coming of a new year opens up the space to think about what to do during these new times. This is why LA NACION asked intellectuals, cultural administrators and writers which should be the cultural priority that Argentina should solve during 2010.

Source: La Nacion

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Intellectual property in Chile

Chile’s Congress approved the bill that regulates the digital era’s progress and, mainly, Internet downloads. This initiative, originated in May 2007, reforms Law 17.336 or Intellectual Property Law, sanctioned in 1970. The reform’s objective is to establish fines for unauthorized online offering of copyright- protected contents, and to prohibit access to Internet to those who repeatedly commit this crime, once the appropriate investigation has been conducted and the judicial decision has been taken by the proper authorities.

Source: Punto Panoramico

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Qatar is Arab culture capital

Al-Quds Capital of Arab Culture 2009 programme concluded in a grand celebration, where the title was handed over to Qatar, which will initiate its own celebrations in 2010.

Source: Gulf Times

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

South Korea: Culture Ministry to tighten copyright protection on cultural contents

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that it will tighten the copyright protection in using illegal downloaded files and promote the print-based media industry through paid services.

Source: Korea Times

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

UK: Government announces £1.3 million fund to create 200 culture jobs

Young people looking to break into the creative industries are to be given a boost, after the government confirmed £1.3 million of funding to help create 200 new jobs in the sector.

Source: The Stage

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Blog: Do we need a new framework for culture?

Seventeen bloggers discuss former NEA chairman Bill Ivey's call for a new cultural framework in America on this special one-week ArtsJournal blog.

Source: ArtsJournal Weblog

Posted: 27-01-2010 Policy, Research and Politics

Music Council of Australia submits ideas for national cultural policy

The Music Council of Australia has sent a big submission to the national cultural policy project undertaken by Arts Minister Peter Garrett. Here are some quotes.

Source: Music Council of Australia

Posted: 27-01-2010 Music education

Meeting of the Asia/Pacific Network of arts education observatories

In preparation to the Second World Conference on Arts Education which will be jointly organized in Seoul by the Republic of Korea and UNESCO in May 2010, and as part of a global consultation on Arts Education leading up to this event, the UNESCO Bangkok Culture Unit convenes a two-day consultation gathering UNESCO Arts Education Observatories representatives, regional experts and members of the World Conference organizing committee to reflect on the contribution of the Asia Pacific region to the Seoul Conference.

Source: UNESCO

Posted: 27-01-2010 Technologies and media

Nerds are the new rock stars, OK Go says

OK Go employs some mighty fancy footwork as it walks the tightrope between music’s well-funded past and uncertain future. Whether filming viral videos with NASA nerds, custom-designing laser guitars or launching its latest sonic missile, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, the band brings plenty of brains to the battle for success in the internet age.

Source: Wired

Posted: 27-01-2010 Technologies and media

The BBC and the future of jazz: the stalemate continues

Jazz musicians and fans know the music that rules their world doesn't receive its due in the media – but what can we do when the playing field is so skewed from the start?

Source: The Guardian

Posted: 27-01-2010 Technologies and media

Why Berklee is teaching its students to compose scores for video games

“Abandon,’’ a video game designed by a group of MIT students and set in a mysterious, surrealistic world of traffic cones, toasters, bookcases, and other vaguely menacing objects, may never make it to game stores or home consoles. But it will have at least one feature found on most commercially marketed video games: an original soundtrack, professionally composed and painstakingly synched to the game’s play features and story line.

Source: Boston Globe

Posted: 27-01-2010 Technologies and media

Not just a blip: Ivor Novello awards to recognise computer game music

"Blip . . . blop” went the primitive soundtrack to Pong, the seminal arcade game. Now the symphonic majesty of today’s computer game music is to be recognised at Britain’s leading awards for composers.

Source: The Times

Posted: 27-01-2010 The rest

Istanbul begins celebrations as European Capital of Culture 2010

Ceremonies began with a protocol event at the Haliç Congress Centre, where Ministers from Turkey and neighboring countries participated, along with high level statesmen and diplomats, leading members of the business, culture and arts world.

Source: Sofia News Agency