MIDEM 2009: Man - the lifeboats?

The Isle Of Man government has introduced plans for a blanket music tax on broadband services. The BPI is - at least publicly - being all pleased:

"If ISPs take the position advocated in the Isle of Man, we’d be in an enormously better position," [The BPI's Geoff] Taylor responded.

The Register's Andrew Orlowski isn't quite so sure:

[M[any in both the tech business and the music business are wary of a government-imposed licence fee. A voluntary subscription scheme would provide an incentive for new services to be created - P2P service providers would compete for your custom. Such a voluntary P2P scheme is expected to be announced from a major UK ISP within a few weeks.

With a compulsory licence, ISPs would have no incentive to look after music sharers or differentiate themselves - everybody would be able to offer anything. And privately, labels are wary that collective agreements set a low floor price for music royalties.

Ah, but this is the Isle of Man we're talking about here, and it's more than likely that the music industry will see a small island in pretty much the same way the British military saw Gruinard: a place to test the most toxic stuff away from the major centres of population. If it all goes wrong, and results in the music industry losing more control, they've only lost a tiny market. If, on the other hand, it means the big four get a disproportionate chance to hoover down revenues from the licence, then that could be a prize worth the risk.

[Thanks to Mikey for the story]

Andy Kershaw on the run

There's not been much heard of Andy Kershaw in the last couple of months - it turns out that he'd gone to ground after again breaking the terms of court orders to not have contact with his ex-partner.

Kershaw gives a trying-not-to-sound-too-bitter interview to today's Independent; it's not any less heartbreaking this time around and - with bungled attempts to hide from police, and periods of sleeping rough - it's got a little worse. And while you can understand his need to sound off, complaining about the BBC for not paying him while, erm, he hasn't been at work for six months, and having a pop at the Isle of Man police isn't really going to help make things better.

Worse, the detailing of what went wrong between him and his partner in a national paper isn't a sign that he's moving on, either. He should be on the radio, not sleeping on the streets, but instead of a route back he's traipsing over and over old ground.

Andy Kershaw: Released into mother's custody

High Bailiff Michael Moyle, The judge who heard Andy Kershaw's case yesterday has cut him some slack, granting him a suspended sentence for the latest bout of harassment of his former partner, and strongly advising he moves in with his mother.

Kershaw's brief told the court that he'd suffered an "emotional meltdown" at the weekend. Moyle accepted the defence and told Kershaw:

Look at you, you look awful. I would encourage you to look at yourself long and hard. You must be breaking the heart of your mother and sister.

"You drink to excess and you can't accept that Mr Imrie is the man of Miss Banner's choice, not you.

"On the clear understanding you will leave the Isle of Man forthwith, I'm prepared to give you one final chance.

"I'm not banning you from the island, I merely suggest you take a considerable break in the company of your family."

Simply relocating to Manchester might not be enough, of course, but it might be a step in the right direction.

Kershaw: Not so good

After the positive-sounding piece in the Mail, things seemed to be on the up for Andy Kershaw.

Then we read the interview in the Mirror, where he still sounded incredibly angry and life-tainting bitter about his experiences.

This morning, he's back in jail after another suspected breach of his restraining order.

Terrible news.

Andy Kershaw jailed for three months

That it wasn't entirely unexpected doesn't make it any less upsetting: Andy Kershaw has been sentenced to three months inside after pleading guilty to breaching a restraining order:

Passing sentence, High Bailiff Michael Moyle said Kershaw's life was turning into a "Greek tragedy".

He added: "You seem hell-bent on destroying yourself and you do not seem to appreciate that the author of your destruction is yourself."

Mr Moyle told Kershaw that Miss Banner and Mr Imrie were "entitled to be protected from your unlawful activities".

He continued: "I genuinely regret that you, by your actions, have brought this state of affairs to pass.

"I regret that I feel I have no obligation other than to impose custody."

It's an increasingly sad story; let's hope - for everyone involved - this marks its lowest point.

Kershaw "breaches restraining order again"

Andy Kershaw has appeared in court again, following claims that he breached terms of a restraining order preventing him from making contact with his former partner.

He's been bailed to appear again on December 4th; he's currently under a three-month suspended sentence following charges arising from an earlier breach of the order.

Kershaw bailed

Andy Kershaw has been bailed on charges relating to the breaching of a restraining order; he's due back in court on the 18th September to answer the charges.