5th Mar 2013
‘The Next Day’ dawns on iTunes

iTunes are now streaming David Bowie’s new album ‘The Next Day’ in its entirety up to the release date of March 11 in the UK. The worldwide exclusive appeared four days ago, with the album also available for pre-order. At the beginning of the year, Bowie shock-released new single ‘Where are we now’ through the platform, creating the PR storm of the year so far without a strategy and bypassing any kind of radio support or promo.
25th Feb 2013
BRIT Awards: are you bored?

The BRITS effect is rippling through the charts this week with Emeli Sandé back up to Number Two with ‘Our Version of Events’ and Ben Howard seeing sales of his album triple overnight- but the big question seems to be if such a super slick and predictable ceremony was actually entertaining, despite achieving the highest TV viewing figures in a decade.
18th Feb 2013
It’s oh so Quietus

Leftfield online music magazine The Quietus has launched a record label and will release London based artist East India Youth's (aka William Doyle) debut EP ‘Hostel’ on 25 March. Announced on their website, The Quietus Phonographic Corporation is described as “100% DIY release with no backers aside from our own pockets, no PR, no radio plugging”.
14th Feb 2013
Prince: Sign of the times?

After declaring the Internet to be “completely over” in 2010, getting into legal wrangles over a baby dancing to his music on Youtube and giving his music away with copies of The Mirror, you may be forgiven for thinking that pop star Prince has an aversion to online media- not exactly an early adopter. This week however, he seems to have finally given in by releasing new single ‘Screwdriver’ through digital distributors Believe and selling the video online.
8th Jan 2013
The return of the Thin White Duke

David Bowie today (08 January) launched a surprise return to the music world, bypassing radio and any pre-release promo to release a new single exclusively through iTunes.
28th Nov 2012
PIAS of the action

Independent music distributor and label PIAS Recordings will launch a new website and app on December 4 as it prepares to celebrate 30 years in the business.
29th Oct 2012
Pretty great machine

US singer/songwriter and soundtrack composer Trent Reznor has explained that he recently abandoned the DIY route and returned to a major label partnership as “It was worth slicing the pie up” and that “complete independent releasing has its great points, but also comes with shortcomings”. Reznor set up his own label in 2008 but has signed a partnership deal with Sony’s Columbia Records for a forthcoming release by his group ‘How to Destroy Angels’.
5th Sep 2012
30/30 Vision

Generator is teaming up with The Roundhouse, EMI and Livewire for this year’s 30/30, with a deadline of 01 October for artists to submit tracks.Over 30 days in November, 30 emerging artists from across the UK will record tracks in the EMI / PRSF studio at the Roundhouse with a top music producer, going on to release them on Roundhouse Records and perform at the ‘Roundhouse Rising’ event in February 2013 in London.
2nd Aug 2011
Indie stores challenge the throne

In another clash between independent and corporate culture, the organisers of Record Store Day have written an open letter of complaint to Kanye West and Jay Z following the announcement that Best Buy will have an exclusive deluxe edition of their joint album for the first ten days following release in the US.
15th Jun 2011
Roundhouse has 30/30 vision

London venue The Roundhouse has joined forces with EMI to offer emerging musical talent the chance to use their live music studio and a top producer for each day of September this year.Launched in 2009, 30/30 is an innovative youth project aimed at discovering and cultivating emerging musical talent. Unsigned artists between the ages of 16-25 producing music across all genres are invited to step up for the opportunity.