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Record Label EMI has gone against the grain and launched apps for Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen, Eliza Doolittle and Professor Green on the Ovi Store.  While its not unusual for an artist to release an app it is surprising that these artists don’t already have apps for the iPhone.  EMI are one of the first labels to look beyond the iPhone and release apps straight to Nokia’s platform.

Although Nokia hold the largest market share of the mobile phone market, their app store is still in its infancy and until recently has not been seen as a force in the app world.  EMI follow Tesco who recently launched their transactional Grocery app on the Ovi Store first.  Nokia has been keen to talk up Ovi Store’s potential for artist apps in recent months, but this is one of the first signs that its message is hitting home within labels.

It will be interesting to keep an eye on the Ovi Store’s developments as it seems Nokia have their sights firmly on Apples App Store.

Simon Cowell’s record label SyCo has launched an innovative campaign for it’s latest signing Labrinth.  The campaign uses QR codes that when scanned with a phone camera direct the user to the Labrinth website.  The QR codes will appear on outdoor and print media, while social media activity on social Facebook, Twitter and Youtube will also drive traffic to the site.

Although QR codes have been around for a while it’s only now that they are being used more in marketing activities. The codes can store text, URL and other data and are a great way of directing people from traditional media to on-line and digital media channels.

Check out the video below for more info on the Labrinth QR codes.

Apple has been bouncing around the idea of offering “shelves” to iTunes customers where they can store their purchases on the company’s servers.

This would mean that you could access your entire iTunes library from any internet connection. You’d be able to pick up purchased TV episodes or tunes from your library from any computer in the world, and ultimately never have to worry about limited storage.

Apple spoke to major record companies a month ago about their cloud computing plans and  have recently spoken to some of the big film studios about the idea, which in effect would be a highly personal streaming service of paid for content.

If introduced, this will be great timing for Apple as currently its customers are downloading more and more iPhone apps, which are taking up the space that music once had the full reign of. This shelf solution will resolve this problem!

This could all be a moot point in the UK if the government passes the anti-piracy bill. One of the suggested restrictions this bill entails is the closure of all free Wi-Fi points including schools, colleges, and cafes (this will mean the only reason to go to Starbucks is for the coffee!!)

Poker PR currently uses a cloud solution for its document sharing and will be watching this subject as it develops very closely.

By Justin Pywell

With a month to go ‘til WMC2010 we pick our top parties from this year’s event. Undoubtedly the most important in the dance music calendar in the states, the Miami’s Winter Music Conference will be celebrating its 25th year in 2010. Originally started as a meeting of just 80 dance music insiders, it’s become an essential stop for artists, partygoers, promoters, and labels serving around 60,000 visitors during one week. Here are the highlights:

Tuesday 23^rd March

Air London & 8 Bit Records presents…

Nick Curly (Cecille/8 Bit), Simon Baker (2020 Vision/Cocoon), Glimpse (Planet E/Cadenza), and Oxia (8 Bit) are among the acts playing at the event, taking over both rooms at the Electric Pickle.

Wednesday 24^th March

Credit To The Edit with Greg Wilson.

Back to the Electric Pickle for, Poker favourite, Greg Wilson. This is Greg’s first set at the conference and he will be playing an exclusive 4 hour set. Guests to be announced.

Thursday 25^th March

Space Miami Presents VIVA.

If Carlsberg did parties… Steve Lawler, M.A.N.D.Y., Tiefschwarz, and Radioslave are among the list of DJ’s playing at the event with arguably one of the best line ups of the conference.

Friday 26^th March

Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso & Friends.

After a massive year in 2009 Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso of the famed Swedish House Mafia head to Mansion and are joined by their friends An21 and Kim Fai. Featuring a special guest appearance by Florence and the Machine.

Saturday 27^th March

Stealth Live

With a 7 hour set from Roger Sanchez, and Poker friends Prok and Fitch playing this event at the luxurious SET Nightclub, this is one not to be missed.

Sunday 28^th March

Danny Tenaglia Closing Pool Party.

Call us traditionalist but there is no better way to end the WMC than at Danny’s famous closing party. With a melting pot of clubbers, hipsters from all over the world, DJmag at the Shelborne closes their pool with the best of the best.

This is Poker PR’s pick of the week’s parties, but you should not forget the actual conference itself or the Ultra Music Festival featuring a multitude of top DJ’s and acts over the Friday and the Saturday.

By Justin Pywell

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Are looking for a new flat in Elephant and Castle? How about living opposite Ministry of Sound? This may sound like heaven to the truly dedicated MOS fan, but a planning application by property developer Oakmayne could threaten the club’s entertainment license.

Plans for a residential building which, if built, would sit opposite MOS and the developers do not seem to be fans of the club scene. Oakmayne’s chairman, Christopher Allen, has the opinion that “nightclubs come and go”.

The club, in SE1, has been the centre of the brands business for just over 18 years and has been involved in local projects since 1991. It employs people from the local area and is used as a venue for events for the people of Southwark.

Ministry of Sound Group CEO Lohan Presencer said “When Oakmayne told us that ‘nightclubs come and go’, we were horrified. Ministry of Sound is not just any nightclub; it’s the most famous nightclub in the world and the heart of a global entertainment business. These developers have cut corners at every stage and counter to their claims, they do not have the best interests of the local community at heart. We must do everything in our power to save our club and our business”.

At Poker we hope that this planned development will not result in another big loss in clubland. Developers were responsible for the loss of the Goods Yard, which was home to The Cross and The Key, and it took the London scene a year to recover from the loss of this collection of important venues.

By Justin Pywell

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