Morning Music Notes – How To Start Your Tuesday Right: 2 New Live Radiohead Songs

Radiohead Kick Off North American Tour, Play Two NEW Songs

Last night, Radiohead were where I wished I was – Candyland! Miami, Florida, kicking off their 2012 tour. The band are touring one year after their February 2011 release, The King of Limbs. I used to obsess over Radiohead setlists, analyze and memorize them. But I soon realized that this killed the fun out of concerts, well, to some small degree. I’d also listen to any new songs on repeat and then imagine the perfect next album. However, when I’d hear the songs get “Radiohead-ized” in the studio, sometimes I was SO used to the live version, I couldn’t handle anything slightly modified.

Now, with that preamble finished with, Radiohead debuted 2 new songs last night (via At Ease). The songs are called Cut a Hole and Identikit. AND – I have not listened to them. Yup, I’m a big man now, and am waiting until I here them live myself, or they appear on a new album that they spring on us. But you fine folks can listen to them below.

Radiohead – Cut a Hole

Radiohead – Identikit

If You’re Gonna Sue Me, I’m Gonna Sue You, Justin Bieber

Remember that iOS and Android app we showed you, Joustin’ Beaver? Justin Bieber (well, his lawyers) sent a cease and desist order to developers RC3. Now, RC3 have filed a lawsuit against Justin Bieber, claiming that they have the right to distribute the game (via RC3’s lawyers Hollywood Reporter).

For those who love law, check out the lawsuit text from RC3: “In an effort to comment upon the Defendant’s life, the Plaintiff, RC3 developed the aforementioned App entitled “Joustin’ Beaver.” The App, a video game, is a parody of the commercial success of the Defendant and any celebrity. The parody app portrays a beaver floating on a log down a river. The beaver presents with bangs, a lance, and a purple sweater. The beaver knocks ‘Phot-Hogs’ that are attempting to take his photograph into the river with his lance. The beaver also signs ‘Otter-graphs.’ The beaver also must dodge the ‘whirlpool of success,’ which will lead beaver out of control, while navigating the river.”

So this is supposed to help them win the case?

OK Go’s Manager Clarifies Money and Video Comments

OK Go are famous for their amazing viral videos on YouTube and Vevo (despite the average nature of the actual songs themselves). We, via Digital Music News, ran a piece about how little money OK Go have made from video services and the label, EMI, despite having tens of millions of views (and therefore, listens) of their songs online. Now, manager Jamie Kitman highlights how the band’s original financial deal means they will always be chasing their original losses, and do not gain publishing income from videos (via Digital Music News, again).

“I am the manager of OK Go and as with all out of context quotes, mine lends itself to misreading. What Rio [Caraeff] from Vevo says is absolutely the case — as far as I know, they pay our former label [EMI] for the content they own and because we are — and probably always will be — in an unrecouped position, we’ll never see a dime, as we are forever destined to be paying them back for tour support we received in 2002, or the $505,000 video they commissioned for our first song after turning down our $65,000 budget, before they decided we weren’t a commercial proposition, or the 13 times they secretly retracked the drums on our first single at a cost of $35,000 (only to wind up using our killer drummer’s original track–priceless.)

The wrinkle in our contract which stings the most is the one that allows a label to recoup publishing income from videos — as distinct from mechanical royalties and other publishing incomes from record sales and other licenses — apparently a standard clause in old-school record deals. No one anticipated Youtube or Vevo and what do you know, this one breaks in the favor of the majors. And while I’m busy clarifying, let me also say that the band and I bear Youtube no ill will, either. I was merely making the point that you won’t get rich just by having an internet hit.”

Interesting stuff. Who needs labels when we have the Internet? Let’s revolt!