Music streaming service Spotify are rumoured to be in negotiations to allow free users to stream music from their mobile devices.

The web service, which has on average 5m paying subscribers globally (as well as around 15m ‘free’ ad-funded users), is due to meet up with the major music labels over the coming weeks to renegotiate contracts.

Currently, Spotify’s free service is only available on computers, with the top-tier (£10) service required to access the service through your iPhone or iPad.

Spotify’s argument with labels will likely be that it needs this agreement in order to achieve profitability. Despite the service’s large number of monthly-paying users, Spotify is believed to be operating at break-even.

According to an industry insider, “Everybody in the industry wants to see Spotify succeed; nobody in the industry can afford to see [Spotify] go down the tubes.”

Beyonce’s HBO documentary ‘Life Is But A Dream’ has been confirmed as the highest-rated audience figures for a documentary over the past 10 years by broadcaster HBO. The cable network announced that 1.8m households watched the open documentary at its 9pm US timeslot. The only other documentary to come close was 2006’s ‘When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts’. ‘Levees’ was a Spike Lee mini-series covering the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Beyonce’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, broadcast one hour before the ‘Life Is But A Dream’ movie was also a ratings-hit. An average of 1.3m viewers tuned in for her ‘warts-n-all’ chat which covered a multitude of hot topics circulating the superstar’s life.

Life Is But A Dream is available to catch up here, and click here for Beyonce’s ‘Next Chapter’ interview with Oprah.

For those who downloaded Labrinth’s phenomenal free EP ‘Atomic’ last year, the standout track ‘No Prisoners’ guested multiple up-and-coming artists from the UK grime scene. The track has now been given an official video and released courtesy of the producer’s pals over at SBTV.

The track features newcomers Lunar C, Marger, Yungen Mr. Faiz and Maxsta, and, in no other words, is an absolute banger. I haven’t been this excited about UK grime/hip hop in years – Labrinth and these guys are taking things to a different level.

The full video can be seen below; let us know your thoughts after the jump:

Responding on website Whosay.com, Clarkson wrote:

So I just heard Clive Davis is releasing a memoir and spreading false information about me and my music. I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans. It feels like a violation. Growing up is awesome because you learn you don’t have to cower to anyone – even Clive Davis.

First, he says I burst into “hysterical sobbing” in his office when he demanded Since You Been Gone be on my album. Not true at all. His stories and songs are mixed up. I did want more guitars added to the original demo and Clive did not. Max, Luke and I still fought for the bigger sound and we prevailed and I couldn’t be more proud of the life of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way.

But, yes, I did cry in his office once. I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called “Because Of You.” I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a “sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.” He continued on about how the song didn’t rhyme and how I should just shut up and sing. This was devastating coming from a man who I, as a young girl, considered a musical hero and was so honored to work with.
But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn’t include that in the book.

He also goes on to say My December wasn’t successful because I co-penned the album and it didn’t have “pop hits”. Well, first let me say, I’ve co-penned many of my “pop hits.” Secondly, My December went platinum (It sold 20,000 less than All I Ever Wanted which followed My December.) Hardly a huge failure. Never Again, the ONLY single they released in the US from that record was a Top 10 hit. I am very proud of that and I have my fans to thank. But, again, what’s most interesting about his story is what he leaves out: He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. It never had a chance to reach it’s full potential. My December was an album I needed to make for myself for many reasons and the fact that I was so completely disregarded and disrespected was so disheartening, there really aren’t words to explain….
Anyway, I love my job. I love my music. I love my fans. I love my label and all of my professional relationships… now. And I am grateful for Clive for teaching me to know the difference.

Cheers to another amazing year! And, as always, thanks for listening!
KC

Seems like she’s not one to get on the wrong side of!

The stunningly-soulful Lianne La Havas has just released the beautiful new video to accompany new single ‘Elusive’. The track, taken from Havas’ fantastic Mercury-nominated album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough’ is, in one word, brilliant, and the video itself is breathtaking too.

Video director Colin Solal Cardo has created a compelling storyline, rarely seen in music videos nowadays, expressing multiple subjects that’ll definitely get people talking.

Of the video, Cardo mentioned:

“I’ve been collaborating with Lianne for more than a year now, but working on this project felt like something completely new. Lianne’s a brilliant storyteller, there’s a true cinematic quality to her songs. When you listen to them, you go through all these emotions and narratives, like a collection of short movies. We felt like it was finally time to build a world around these songs,
give life to these love stories and let Lianne actually become these characters. Be it a candid young girl falling in love, or a heartbroken femme fatale in the middle of the woods. I feel fortunate for the trust relationship I have with Lianne, it’s something any music video director has to cherish because it’s rare and precious. Ultimately, that’s what allows an ambitious project like this one to exist.”

I could talk about Lianna La Havas until the cows [horses] come home. I buy a LOT of music, however album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough’ is probably the greatest LP I’ve seen in my collection since Maverick Sabre’s ‘Lonely Are The Brave’. Her sound is cool and fresh, simple yet effective. In all her tracks, Havas wants you to immerse yourself and ‘join’ her story.. pop on your headphones, block out all other sounds, watch this and you’ll see what I mean.

The video’s below for your viewing pleasure and you can buy the album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough’ here. If you don’t want to take the plunge JUST yet, then the album stream is below the visual:

Spotify stream – Lianne La Havas – Is Your Love Big Enough