Darker My Love are a noisy shoegazing five piece from LA with a new album out called '2'. After listening to it, I immediately felt the urge to listen to A Place To Bury Strangers' album from last year, only to later find out that these new guys are supporting the Mute signed trio on a couple of European dates. Perfect. And that tie up should give you an inkling of where they're at musically here, though while APTS offer a more violent, propulsive, altogether blacker brand of noise (let's call it the My Bloody Valentine side), Darker My Love are more psychedelic and dreamy (I'm pitching this as the Spacemen 3 side). There's plenty of feedback, horns, violin, cello and moments that it would be rather routine to describe as 'epic', though I'm going to describe them that way anyway because it fits the band nicely. Take a listen at the MySpace link below, particularly to 'Two Ways Out', the current single, and pay a visit to one of the two London shows coming up.

www.myspace.com/darkermylove

Not sure what's going on here, but TechCrunch are reporting that a Swedish software firm have bought The Pirate Bay for $7.7 million, and the people behind the rogue BitTorrent tracker have seemingly confirmed the deal on their blog.

Global Gaming Factory X, which is also reportedly buying another software company that specialises in P2P technology, Perrialism, have reportedly said they want to reinvent the controversial multimedia content search service so that it no longer falls foul of copyright laws.

A spokesman said they will develop a new Pirate Bay business model that "satisfies the requirements and needs of all parties, content providers, broadband operators, end users, and the judiciary", while the firm's CEO Hans Pandeya told reporters: We would like to introduce models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid for content that is downloaded via the site".

I'm not sure such a business model really exists, especially one that would satisfy Pirate Bay's existing users, many of whom like their idea of sticking it to the man by downloading gigabytes worth of free content without the copyright owners permission. But still, it's a bold idea.

Whether Global Gaming will take on liability for the damages payments TPB have been ordered to pay the record companies isn't clear, a big part of the 60 million Swedish Crowns Global Gaming are paying might be to help pay off the fines, even though the three founders behind the service have previously said they wouldn't pay them. Quite what the deal will mean for the Pirate Bay Four's as yet not started prison sentences I'm not sure - technically speaking nothing, though it might aid the Four's case at appeal for having the sentences quashed.

Confirming the sell out, but denying it was a 'sell out', The Pirate Bay team blogged this morning: "A lot of people are worried. We're not and you shouldn't be either! TPB is being sold for a great bit underneath its value if the money would be the interesting part. It's not. The interesting thing is that the right people with the right attitude and possibilities keep running the site".

They continued: "As all of you know, there's not been much news on the site for the past two-three years. It's the same site essentially. On the internet, stuff dies if it doesn't evolve. We don't want that to happen. We've been working on this project for many years. It's time to invite more people into the project, in a way that is secure and safe for everybody. We need that, or the site will die. And letting TPB die is the last thing that is allowed to happen!"

On what assurances they have had that the Bay's new owners will continue to service the site's users in the way they want (which means lots and lots of free content), the blog said: "If the new owners will screw around with the site, nobody will keep using it. That's the biggest insurance one can have that the site will be run in the way that we all want to".

The Bay team added that any profits from the sale would be put into a foundation to lobby for more freedom of speech and information on the net. Their blog concludes: "I hope everybody will help out in that and realize that this is the best option for all. Don't worry - be happy!"

Michael Jackson's father Joe seems to be leading the conspiracy theorists with regards his son's sudden death last week. He's told LA media that he still suspects foul play, even though the initial autopsy by Californian authorities said there was nothing suspicious about Jacko's death, and LAPD have said there is no reason to suspect that the singer's personal physician, Dr Conrad Murray, acted inappropriately or negligently in the minutes before the singer's demise.

Still, Jackson Senior says that to him Michael's death doesn't make sense, because minutes before suffering a fatal cardiac arrest he was happily chatting to fans at the gates of his rented mansion in LA. And, of course, no one has ever previously been happily chatting one minute and dead the next. Such things do not, whatever experts in the medical profession may say, happen every day of the week.

I shouldn't be so harsh I suppose, the poor guy has just lost his son. Anyway, this is what Jackson Senior told ABC7 yesterday: "Michael was dead before he left the house [to go to hospital]. I'm suspecting foul play somewhere. He was waving to everybody and telling them he loves them and all, the fans at the gate. A few minutes after Michael was out there, he was dead".

The family is expected to order its own autopsy as part of its investigation into what happened to Michael, while the LA coroner won't fully report on the singer's death until the results of toxicology tests are known, which could take up to two months.

Elsewhere in Jacko news, a court has granted temporary guardianship of the singer's three children to his mother Katherine. A further court hearing is expected to take place in August to ascertain whether the children's 79 year old grandmother will become their permanent legal guardian.

As previously reported, the mother of Jackson's two eldest children - twelve year old Prince Michael and eleven year old Paris Michael - is reported to be planning to apply for custody, arguing their grandmother is too old to care for them. Debbie Rowe had previously given up all custody rights to the two children through a legal agreement with Jackson, though a judge later expressed concerns about the nature of that agreement and a new contract was struck, the details of which are unknown. But whatever is in that agreement, it's thought a court would probably consider any Rowe custody claim on its merits rather in the context of any previous contractual commitments.

However, a lawyer for the Jackson family says they haven't actually had any formal correspondence from Rowe or her legal representatives. Attorney Londell McMillan, speaking to NBC, added that he was confident Katherine would be given permanent custody of her grandchildren, adding: "I don't think there will be anybody who thinks there is someone better".

And a formal statement from Rowe's lawyer over the weekend was less committal about her client's intent than earlier reports regarding her wishes, saying simply: "Ms Rowe's only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael's family has suffered. Ms Rowe requests that Michael's family, and particularly the children, be spared such harmful, sensationalist speculation and that they be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace".

Talking of sensational speculation, the LA County Coroner's office has dismissed rumours doing the rounds regarding their autopsy findings. Although the coroner has already said there was no sign of foul play, his full finding on Jackson's death won't be released until the results of the aforementioned toxicology tests are known.

However, various revelations have appeared on the net which claim to come from the coroner's prelim report. Among the claims are that the singer was "severely emaciated" at the time of his death, weighing just 8st 1oz, and that the contents of his stomach consisted of nothing more than partially-dissolved pills.

But a spokesman for the cornoner's office told reporters yesterday: "The report that is being published did not come from our office. I don't know where that information came from, or who that information came from. It is not accurate. Some of it is totally false".

Promoters of the Jackson O2 residency, AEG Live, have told fans with tickets for one of the now cancelled fifty shows that they should go MichaelJacksonLive.com website tomorrow for details of how to claim a full refund, including any service charges they may have paid.

Announcing that the refund process would begin tomorrow, AEG Live boss Randy Phillips told reporters: "The world lost a kind soul who just happened to be the greatest entertainer the world has ever known. Since he loved his fans in life, it is incumbent upon us to treat them with the same reverence and respect after his death". I think basic consumer rights laws are also involved here, though to be fair they probably don't order anyone to treat consumers with actual reverence and respect.

Fans will also be given the option to still receive the actual hard copy ticket that would have got them entrance to the shows, which were due to kick off at the O2 dome next month. That is apparently a little work of art in itself, it being a lenticular ticket (you know, you wobble it and the picture changes) designed by Jacko himself. It's not clear what charge will be made to those who choose to receive this little souvenir of the big Jacko shows that never were.

Pictures of the final rehearsals for the O2 residency shows appear in some tabloids this morning, some shot the day before Jackson's death, and it has to be said they do look rather exciting. It's possible we might get an even better picture of the shows that were never to be, because word has it AEG are sitting on a hundred hours of footage from the show's rehearsals, footage very possibly intended for some sort of behind the scenes documentary to appear on a 'This Is It' live DVD at some point in the future. It's not clear if that content would make a good DVD or album, or both, in itself. Given that Jackson never released a live album, the recordings could prove to be valuable, and could help both AEG recoup some of its losses and the Jackson estate pay off some more debts.

While Jackson sits atop the UK album chart this week, with seven appearances in the album chart, and twenty tracks in the singles Top 75 (if you count Jacksons tracks), the King Of Pop has been shifting serious units in the US too following his premature death last week.

Official figures won't be out until tomorrow, but Billboard records that the Jacko compilations 'Number Ones' and 'The Essential Michael Jackson', and Jackson's most famous album 'Thriller', all shifted more than 100K copies each in the week up to Sunday night, the vast majority in the three days after his death. By comparison, sales of the entire Jackson catalogue in the previous week were in the region of 10,000 units. Those three albums are expected to top the Billboard pop catalogue chart this week, with a very real possibility that Jackson will take up nine spots in the pop catalogue top ten.

Jackson has also been scoring record plays on most online streaming services. Omnifone, who power unlimited music services (mainly mobile based) in nine territories around the world, reported yesterday that there had been a 525% increase in the amount of Jackson music being played by their subscribers since the king of pop's death. And interestingly, while Jackson's death had a huge impact on the UK chart, it is in Asia where Omnifone have seen the biggest rise in consumption of Jacko's music. While in the UK there was a 323% increase, in Omnifone's Asia Pacfic market there was a massive 750% increase.

A statue of Ivor Novello has been unveiled in the composer and actor's home city of Cardiff, at a ceremony at the Wales Millennium Centre.

The seven foot bronze sculpture was created after businessman Hilary David began fundraising for a memorial, leading to the setting up of a Statue Fund charity backed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and opera star Dennis O'Neill. Chairman of the fund Derek Grattidge said: "The response has been magnificent, raising £80,000. It reflects the pride not just of Cardiff but of Wales in the outstanding achievements of Ivor Novello".

Novello, who of course gave his name to the Ivor Novello Awards for songwriters, was one of the biggest stars of the early twentieth century, and made his name with songs like 'Keep The Home Fires Burning', his stage musicals, and his cinema appearances, in the UK and the USA. Despite his large contribution to British culture, many people are unaware of the breadth of his work, or of his Welsh origins.

Norman Lloyd-Edwards, president of the Statue Fund said: "It has been far too long. At last Wales has a fitting memorial to a musical master who created a wonderful world of music and happiness that did his home city and country proud".

Rachel Stevens has witnessed a gun attack at a London restaurant, in the same month as she was robbed at her home near Regent's Park.

The former S Club star was, according to the Daily Mail, eating at Harry Morgan with her family on Friday when a gunman chased another man into the restaurant and shot him in the leg five times.

A spokesperson for the singer said: "Rachel and her family were dining at a restaurant where gunshots were fired. It was a frightening experience for everybody there but none of the diners were hurt".

As previously reported, Stevens was robbed at her north London home by thieves who stole her engagement ring, a Rolex and a necklace.

Coolio has pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine at a court in LA, following his arrest in March at LA International Airport after authorities found the drug in his luggage. Charges of battery and possession of a smoking device were dropped. Under a plea deal the rapper will have to attend an 18 month drug rehabilitation programme in order to avoid a three year prison sentence.

A former civil servant who wrote a blog post in which he imagined kidnapping and murdering Girls Aloud has been found not guilty of publishing an obscene article.

Darryn Walker was arrested in February last year after his story was published on a fantasy pornography website being monitored by the Internet Watch Foundation, who tipped off police.

Walker's lawyer Tim Owen QC, said: "It was never [Walker's] intention to frighten or intimidate the members of Girls Aloud. He had written what he had described as an adult celebrity parody and was only meant to be for an audience of like-minded people. As soon as he was aware of the upset and fuss that had been created, he took steps himself to take the article off the website. This type of writing is widely available on the internet in an unregulated and uncensored form. In terms of its alleged obscenity, it is frankly no better or worse than other articles".

Music publishers Cherry Lane have renewed their partnership with John Legend, and as part of the new deal are launching a new imprint to be headed up by the singer songwriter. Legend will sign other writers to HomeSchool Music, who will then work with Cherry Lane to develop and exploit their work.

Confirming the expansion of their relationship with Legend, Cherry Lane top man Peter Primont told reporters: "Through this new joint venture, we are looking forward to uncovering some of the best new talent together".

German producer Bastian Heerhorst, aka Fukkk Offf, whose single 'Rave Is King' was one of our favourites of last year, is back with another slice of heavy-bassed party music. 'Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me' is released via Coco Machete/Module on 27 Jul.

Remixes of the single come from SCNDL, Disco Of Doom (aka Rogue Element and Tom Real) and Polymorphic.

Check out the single here: www.myspace.com/fukkkofff

According to reports, the previously reported new double LP from The Flaming Lips, 'Embryonic', will feature appearances by MGMT and Karen O. The album is released in the UK in September, and the band will follow that with a short tour of the UK, dates as follows:

10 Nov: London, Troxy
13 Nov: Portsmouth, Guildhall
15 Nov: Glasgow, O2 Academy
16 Nov: Manchester, Academy
17 Nov: Birmingham, Academy

Actor Alan Cumming is to star in the previously reported Spiderman stage musical which will feature music by Bono and The Edge. The actor has been confirmed in the role of the Green Goblin for the Broadway venture, which opens next spring, and which will also reportedly star Marilyn Manson's former squeeze, Evan Rachel Wood, as Mary Jane. It's not yet known who will play Peter Parker.

Blur's shows in London's Hyde Park this week will be recorded for a future live album release. Both shows will be made available for sale separately and as a boxset. No release date has yet been set but pre-orders can be placed on the band's official website, here.

Take That fans in Manchester had a lucky escape at the weekend after Lady GaGa was forced to cancel two shows with the boyband. GaGa had performed at Glastonbury on Friday night, although it's not been confirmed if she's one of the people to come down with suspected swine flu at the event. But that would be a good excuse for the Manchester no shows.

A spokesperson for the singer told the BBC on Sunday: "Lady GaGa was feeling unwell on Saturday and, after consulting her doctor, the decision was reluctantly taken that she was unable to perform with Take That at Old Trafford last night and tonight".

Yeah, not really music festival news, but news related to the biggest bloody festival in the world - the good old Edinburgh Festival. And Scott Mills, who will be presenting a few shows from big Fringe this August, has confirmed he will also be debuting a new stage show there - 'Scott Mills The Musical'.

Yes, what apparently started out as a running joke on Mills' Radio 1 drive time show has become a reality, with stage space booked at the Edinburgh Fringe's Pleasance venue on 11-13 Aug. Listeners are busy sending in plot ideas, though what is currently lacking is an actor to play the DJ in the show. Cue a 'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria' style actor search, though without a prime team television slot or the irritation of Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Contenders can apply now via the Scott Mills page on the Radio 1 website - here - and have until the end of the week to do so.

The line up has been announced for the next MusicTank Think Tank event which, I'm pretty sure we've already told you, is all about social media and how it can be used by artists who [a] want to be social and [b] want to make lots of money.

Giving the keynote will be Steve Bowbrick, the BBC's resident tech blogger and an expert on all things internet apparently. He will be joined by Mark Selby from Nokia, who is involved in the phone maker's multimedia ventures worldwide; James Dohney, an artist manager and communications specialist; Umair Haque, director of a thing called the Havas Media Lab; and blogger Steve Lawson.

As previously reported, the event will also include an update from artist James Yuill and his manager Amul Batra, who took part in a MusicTank event last year where Nettwerk Music's Terry McBride gave a whole load of advice on how Yuill could build and monetise a fanbase utilising the net and social media. They'll be updating MusicTankers on how they've used McBride's advice.

For more information check www.musictank.co.uk/events

The boss of UK record label trade body the BPI, Geoff Taylor, has said he regrets that the music industry wasn't quicker to embrace the opportunities offered by the internet and the arrival of music distribution services like Napster more or less exactly ten years ago; but argues that those who say the record industry would definitely have been better off had they only collaborated with the first big P2P platform ignore the major hurdles that would have had to be crossed to enable such a collaboration.

Writing a piece for the BBC on the tenth anniversary of the original Napster, Taylor says: "Many critics have argued that the music industry could have avoided some of the problems it faces today if we had embraced Napster rather than fighting it. That's probably true, and I, for one, regret that we weren't faster in figuring out how to create a sustainable model for music on the internet. But this view also overlooks the formidable hurdles we faced in 1999".

Hurdles Taylor references include the simple bureaucratic headache of licensing millions of copyrights, many of which were owned by different people, or subject to different contracts or laws, in different territories, not the mention the (still not really solved) challenge of how to track P2P distribution and share revenues between labels, publishers, artists and songwriters. DRM, he says, was still considered a priority for record labels at the time, and that too presented all sorts of challenges that made simply doing a deal with Napster tricky, even if there had been a will to do such a deal.

He continued: "In 1999 Napster developed a great digital service, but did so at the expense of music, while the music business protected music at the expense of progressing online digital services. [Napster founder] Shawn Fanning and his P2P followers didn't worry about any of those things, and weren't prepared to pay fair royalties or to partner in a business model that could sustain investment in new music. Ten years on, it's interesting watching other creative sectors struggling with similar issues. In the meantime, the record industry has gone through a transformation".

Taylor observes how ten years on the record industry is slowly catching up, offering all sorts of compelling, engaging and affordable digital music services, from a la carte download stores like iTunes and Amazon MP3, to subscription based services like Nokia Comes With Music, through to ad-funded free streaming platforms like Spotify and We7.

But, he adds, rogue P2P services like the original Napster are still out there, and they don't have the excuse used by Fanning et al that digital music fans have to use unlicensed platforms because no legit services exist. Lots of legit services exist, he argues, and the rogue P2P and other BitTorrent supporting services are making it harder for those services to succeed by offering illegal free alternatives.

He continues: "It is true that some people use P2P for music discovery and spend more on music as a result, but in the aggregate they are heavily outweighed by the number of people whose downloading substitutes for purchases. If the reverse were true, our business would be booming and not contracting right now. There is simply no getting around the fact that billions of illegal free downloads of music every year in the UK mean that significantly less money is coming into the music ecosystem. Music companies invest more money into [research and development (ie new talent)] than any other similar business - over 20% of revenue. But illegal downloading means that artists are not getting paid for their work, and there is a direct knock-on effect on the number of new bands that music companies can sign and support".

Taylor's conclusion is, of course, obvious - this, he says, is why people, and especially politicians, should support the campaign by the record industry, and an increasing number of other content sectors, to crack down on file-sharing, which in the BPI's eye basically means forcing the internet service providers to play a more proactive role in tackling those naughty file-sharers.

The opinion piece is, in my humble opinion, a little unfair on Napster, who never set out to destroy the basic concepts of copyright (as opposed, say, to The Pirate Bay), and who were actively partnering with BMG to find a legit model before BMG's competitors sued the P2P firm out of business. Something which the idiots running EMI, Universal, Sony and Warner at the time genuinely believed was going to be the solution to the P2P problem; in awe, as they were, of their smart suited but ageing lawyers, and such was their contempt for the scruffy kids who were busy developing the next P2P innovation before the majors' had even printed out their Napster cease and desist.

And had a slightly less scruffy (but still not lawyer-style suited) tech man called Steve Jobs not stepped in four years later, there's every chance said idiots would have been relying on the advice of said lawyers to this day, as their industry disappeared down a plug hole. But hey, that's all ancient history, and Taylor's thoughts on the current P2P issue are definitely worth a read.

You can read his full article here.