Following the overall success of Rockness 2009, Northern Constabulary police force is asking revellers for their views on how well the music event was policed.
Around 35,000 people attended the festival at Dores on the shores of Loch Ness at the weekend. Music fans are invited to e-mail their comments to Northern Constabulary police at feedback@northern.pnn.police.uk
Fifteen people have been reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with drug offences.
During the three day event about 800 people needed medical assistance, most of them suffering from the effects of a previous medical condition or simply had forgotten to take their prescribed medication with them (asthmatics, diabetics etc).
There was one case where a young man suffered superficial burns to his hands after using a gas canister at the festival campsite.
A 22-year-old man who was attending the gathering died after being taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness on Saturday evening.
James Smith, who had brittle bone disease and used a wheelchair, had gone with VIP tickets. Police said he became ill shortly after arriving at the festival with a friend.
Mr Smith, from Elgin, was a keen bowler and had been shortlisted to take part in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Chief Superintendent Andy Cowie said the fourth year of the festival saw fewer thefts, incidents of public disorder and assaults.
He said: "I think this is reflective of the carnival atmosphere and general good humour of the crowd over the weekend.
"We have had a significant number of positive drugs searches and a total of 15 people reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with alleged drug possession with intent to supply, which are both up on last year."
The officer added: "We are welcoming any feedback that festival goers have on the policing of the event."
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Monday, 15 June 2009
Universal Music and Virgin Media to Offer Unlimited Downloads
Universal Music and Virgin Media unveiled plans today for a digital music service allowing unlimited music downloads for a monthly fee.
The service will allow Virgin Media customers to stream and download as many tracks as they want from Universal’s catalogue, in return for a monthly subscription fee. Universal Music is home to artists including Amy Winehouse, U2, Kanye West and Elton John.
Virgin Media is currently negotiating with “other UK major and independent music labels and publishers” to offer a “complete” catalogue by the time of launch. The partnership is intended to launch later this year.
Today's announcement comes on the eve of the publication of Lord Carter's Digital Britain report, which is expected to contain more stringent measures to tackle illegal downloading of music, films and TV shows.
In addition Universal Music and Virgin Media say they will work together on anti-piracy initiatives to protect the music company's intellectual property to "drive a material reduction in the unauthorised distribution of [Universal's] repertoire across Virgin Media's network".
This will include raising awareness of online piracy, legal downloading alternatives and, as a last resort for "persistent offenders", temporarily cutting users’ internet access. However, no users will be permanently disconnected and the partners will also be working on educational measures.
Universal Music Group International chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge described the service as “world class”. He said “Britain has a world-class reputation for artists and music.”
“Now British consumers will have access to a world-class digital music service, I believe this puts all of us at the forefront of a new era.” He added.
Virgin Media CEO Neil Berkett adds, "In terms of both convenience and value, our new music service will be superior to anything that's available online today and provides a fair deal for both consumers and artists.”
“There is no better example of Virgin Media's commitment to harnessing digital technology to give customers what they want, when they want and how they want."
The service will allow Virgin Media customers to stream and download as many tracks as they want from Universal’s catalogue, in return for a monthly subscription fee. Universal Music is home to artists including Amy Winehouse, U2, Kanye West and Elton John.
Virgin Media is currently negotiating with “other UK major and independent music labels and publishers” to offer a “complete” catalogue by the time of launch. The partnership is intended to launch later this year.
Today's announcement comes on the eve of the publication of Lord Carter's Digital Britain report, which is expected to contain more stringent measures to tackle illegal downloading of music, films and TV shows.
In addition Universal Music and Virgin Media say they will work together on anti-piracy initiatives to protect the music company's intellectual property to "drive a material reduction in the unauthorised distribution of [Universal's] repertoire across Virgin Media's network".
This will include raising awareness of online piracy, legal downloading alternatives and, as a last resort for "persistent offenders", temporarily cutting users’ internet access. However, no users will be permanently disconnected and the partners will also be working on educational measures.
Universal Music Group International chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge described the service as “world class”. He said “Britain has a world-class reputation for artists and music.”
“Now British consumers will have access to a world-class digital music service, I believe this puts all of us at the forefront of a new era.” He added.
Virgin Media CEO Neil Berkett adds, "In terms of both convenience and value, our new music service will be superior to anything that's available online today and provides a fair deal for both consumers and artists.”
“There is no better example of Virgin Media's commitment to harnessing digital technology to give customers what they want, when they want and how they want."
Thursday, 11 June 2009
UK DJ Gang Arrested in Alleged iTunes Royalty Scam
Scotland Yard and the FBI have smashed a fake music gang who allegedly conned iTunes and Amazon out of more than half a million pounds.
A group of DJs from London and the Midlands were arrested and their homes raided on Wednesday over a suspected music royalties scam which is the first of its kind dealt with by Metropolitan police detectives.
It is alleged that the gang placed their own music on iTunes, the Apple music store, and Amazon, and used stolen credit card details to buy it.
It is claimed they generated about £450,000 in download sales - even catching the eye of music industry chiefs as a new emerging talent.
The group used the fake sales to boost their ratings on the charts after recording 19 music compilations. They then claimed nearly £200,000 in royalties, it is alleged.
Ten people aged 19 to 41 were arrested in raids in London, Birmingham, Kent and Wolverhampton by detectives from Scotland Yard's new E-crime unit, working in partnership with the FBI in the US.
They are being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.
The alleged scam began last August with the DJs paying an annual $30-per-album fee to the company Tunecore, a music distribution service, to get their albums uploaded on to iTunes.
The DJs then obtained thousands of stolen credit card numbers and opened iTunes accounts with them and began downloading their albums at $10 a time.
DCI Terry Wilson, from the Met's Police Central e-Crime Unit, said: "This has been a complex investigation to establish what we believe to be an international conspiracy to defraud Apple and Amazon."
A group of DJs from London and the Midlands were arrested and their homes raided on Wednesday over a suspected music royalties scam which is the first of its kind dealt with by Metropolitan police detectives.
It is alleged that the gang placed their own music on iTunes, the Apple music store, and Amazon, and used stolen credit card details to buy it.
It is claimed they generated about £450,000 in download sales - even catching the eye of music industry chiefs as a new emerging talent.
The group used the fake sales to boost their ratings on the charts after recording 19 music compilations. They then claimed nearly £200,000 in royalties, it is alleged.
Ten people aged 19 to 41 were arrested in raids in London, Birmingham, Kent and Wolverhampton by detectives from Scotland Yard's new E-crime unit, working in partnership with the FBI in the US.
They are being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.
The alleged scam began last August with the DJs paying an annual $30-per-album fee to the company Tunecore, a music distribution service, to get their albums uploaded on to iTunes.
The DJs then obtained thousands of stolen credit card numbers and opened iTunes accounts with them and began downloading their albums at $10 a time.
DCI Terry Wilson, from the Met's Police Central e-Crime Unit, said: "This has been a complex investigation to establish what we believe to be an international conspiracy to defraud Apple and Amazon."
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
New Site Found for Beach Break Live Festival
Organisers of the Beach Break Live Festival Beach Break Live festival organisers have announced they have found a new site to host the festival, which takes place on the 16th to the 19th of June.
The event will now take place at Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent.
Event organisers were forced to find a new location after councillors voted against granting permission for the festival to take place in its original setting at St Agnes, Cornwall on the 27th of May.
In a statement, Beach Break Live organiser Celia Norowzian said she was delighted the festival will now definitely go ahead.
"I can't say how delighted we are," she said. "This has been a heartbreaking few weeks, but we literally feel like a miracle has happened!
"The most shocking thing is that Cornwall's economy is really struggling in the recession – there's over 30 firms going bust every day, but we're still doing our best to bring as many Cornish firms and artists with us as possible."
Acts playing Beach Break Live include Dizzee Rascal, Mystery Jets and Friendly Fires.
For more information, go to: www.beachbreaklive.com
The event will now take place at Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent.
Event organisers were forced to find a new location after councillors voted against granting permission for the festival to take place in its original setting at St Agnes, Cornwall on the 27th of May.
In a statement, Beach Break Live organiser Celia Norowzian said she was delighted the festival will now definitely go ahead.
"I can't say how delighted we are," she said. "This has been a heartbreaking few weeks, but we literally feel like a miracle has happened!
"The most shocking thing is that Cornwall's economy is really struggling in the recession – there's over 30 firms going bust every day, but we're still doing our best to bring as many Cornish firms and artists with us as possible."
Acts playing Beach Break Live include Dizzee Rascal, Mystery Jets and Friendly Fires.
For more information, go to: www.beachbreaklive.com
Monday, 8 June 2009
Pirate Party Wins European Parliament Seat
Sweden's Pirate Party, which aims to reform copyright laws and protect music file downloader’s, has gained enough vote's to win a seat in the European Parliament.
The party gained 7.1 percent of the Swedish vote in last night's, June 8th, count, meaning that it will gain at least one, possibly two seats.The Pirate Party is the third largest political party in Sweden and has seen an increase in profile since four men involved in setting up the file-sharing website were sentenced to a year in jail for copyright infringement in Stockholm.
Party leader Rick Falkvinge hailed the victory as a victory for young technology-savvy people, reports ToffentFreak."Together, we have today changed the landscape of European politics," he said. "This feels wonderful. The citizens have understood it’s time to make a difference."The older politicians have taken apart young peoples' lifestyle, bit by bit. We do not accept that the authorities' mass surveillance."
The party gained 7.1 percent of the Swedish vote in last night's, June 8th, count, meaning that it will gain at least one, possibly two seats.The Pirate Party is the third largest political party in Sweden and has seen an increase in profile since four men involved in setting up the file-sharing website were sentenced to a year in jail for copyright infringement in Stockholm.
Party leader Rick Falkvinge hailed the victory as a victory for young technology-savvy people, reports ToffentFreak."Together, we have today changed the landscape of European politics," he said. "This feels wonderful. The citizens have understood it’s time to make a difference."The older politicians have taken apart young peoples' lifestyle, bit by bit. We do not accept that the authorities' mass surveillance."
Friday, 5 June 2009
Tickets on Sale for MOBO Awards 2009
Tickets for the hotly-anticipated MOBO Awards 2009 in Glasgow are now on sale.
The prestigious annual music event will be held on Wednesday 30th September in the SECC. It is the first time the MOBO Awards Show is being staged outside London in its 13-year history and organisers anticipate that demand for the tickets will be 'unprecedented’ thanks to the stellar line-up of musicians that is MOBO’s trademark.
The SECC has been given exclusivity for duration of two weeks to handle ticket sales via its new ticketing website – ticketSOUP.com, which was launched on Monday 1st June 2009.
The first wave of tickets to go on sale are priced at £29 and £39, with the second wave being made available at a later date in June at £49. VIP tables can be ordered now via the Mobo website at: www.mobo.com
The MOBO Awards are being brought to Glasgow through a partnership of EventScotland, the national events agency and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau with the support of Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
The outstanding win for Scotland was announced in April this year by Kanya King, CEO and founder of MOBO Awards, R&B superstar Lemar and X-Factor finalists JLS.
The prestigious annual music event will be held on Wednesday 30th September in the SECC. It is the first time the MOBO Awards Show is being staged outside London in its 13-year history and organisers anticipate that demand for the tickets will be 'unprecedented’ thanks to the stellar line-up of musicians that is MOBO’s trademark.
The SECC has been given exclusivity for duration of two weeks to handle ticket sales via its new ticketing website – ticketSOUP.com, which was launched on Monday 1st June 2009.
The first wave of tickets to go on sale are priced at £29 and £39, with the second wave being made available at a later date in June at £49. VIP tables can be ordered now via the Mobo website at: www.mobo.com
The MOBO Awards are being brought to Glasgow through a partnership of EventScotland, the national events agency and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau with the support of Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
The outstanding win for Scotland was announced in April this year by Kanya King, CEO and founder of MOBO Awards, R&B superstar Lemar and X-Factor finalists JLS.
Line up Announced for T Break Stage
16 new and unsigned acts have been chosen to perform at this years T in the Park.
After listening to almost 1400 entries, the T Break judging panel have selected 16 of the finest unsigned Scottish acts to join the bill for Balado this July.
The sixteen acts follow in the footsteps of the likes of Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro, Attic Lights, Twin Atlantic and Zoey Van Goey, who all had their first taste of performing through T Break.
The acts selected to play on the T Break stage are:
Barn Owl
Brother Louis Collective
Dead Boy Robotics
G1ft
Gong Fei
Homework
Little Eskimos
Maple Leaves
Mike Nisbet
Ming Ming and the Ching Chings
My Cousin I Bid You Farewell
Popolo
Punch and the Apostles
Tango in the Attic
The French Quarter
We Are Trapped in Kansas
You can see them live at the T Break Stage, T in the Park 10th – 12th July 2009.
After listening to almost 1400 entries, the T Break judging panel have selected 16 of the finest unsigned Scottish acts to join the bill for Balado this July.
The sixteen acts follow in the footsteps of the likes of Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro, Attic Lights, Twin Atlantic and Zoey Van Goey, who all had their first taste of performing through T Break.
The acts selected to play on the T Break stage are:
Barn Owl
Brother Louis Collective
Dead Boy Robotics
G1ft
Gong Fei
Homework
Little Eskimos
Maple Leaves
Mike Nisbet
Ming Ming and the Ching Chings
My Cousin I Bid You Farewell
Popolo
Punch and the Apostles
Tango in the Attic
The French Quarter
We Are Trapped in Kansas
You can see them live at the T Break Stage, T in the Park 10th – 12th July 2009.
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