A volunteer at Melbourne-based community radio station SYN FM has landed in hot water after leaking the much anticipated new album from UK beatsmith Bonobo, which was due for release on April 1st.
Producer and DJ Simon Green, who works under the moniker of Bonobo, was set to release his fifth studio album The North Borders in the coming weeks but as a result of the regrettable leak, record label Ninja Tune were compelled to release the record digitally early this week.
In regards to the early album leak, Ninja Tune issued a statement on their website that reads:
We regret to announce that The North Borders by Bonobo was leaked on 21 March by a volunteer (name withheld) who removed a promo copy of the album without permission from SYN FM radio station in Melbourne, Australia.
We released the album digitally on the Ninjashop, iTunes and other digital retailers yesterday so that people who wish to obtain The North Borders legitimately need not wait longer than those who choose to contribute nothing to the creation of the album.”
In response, the unidentified volunteer responsible for the leak sent this statement to the record label, apologising for his actions:
I’m responsible for leaking the Bonobo album The North Borders. At the time I did not fully comprehend the consequences of taking this action, and now I realise the seriousness of it and the fact I have hurt many people. SYN FM had nothing to do with my callous decision. I sincerely apologise to Bonobo, Ninja Tune and all those involved.”
This black mark left on the release of Bonobo’s newest album has certainly upset those at the media organisation, who have built their reputation on offering training and broadcast opportunities to those aged between 12 and 25. Tone Deaf reached out to SYN for comment and SYN Music Manager Will Evans offered the following statement on the incident:
SYN is committed to protecting the property of labels and artists. This was an isolated occurrence by a sole volunteer who took advantage of the system SYN has in place for music cataloguing. SYN is now conducting a thorough review of this system and the role of the volunteer within the organisation.”
Notwithstanding the leak, it cannot mask the unmatched talent Bonobo has to offer, with the impressive fifth album The North Borders already receiving accolades for its hypnotic beats and accomplished compositions. Following up from 2010’s critically-acclaimed Black Sands, which sold more than 150,000 copies worldwide, the BBC note the new release crafts a wholly organic sounding world – it’s “easy listening for those who’ve reached the dazed dawn after a wild night out”.
Meanwhile the Student Youth Network is currently hosting its Festival of SYN, offering a series of free radio, television, and music workshops offering free hands-on experience in the media industry.
SYN, alongside as many as 37 other community radio stations, were recently petitioning for listeners to ‘commit to community radio’ after Communications Minister Stephen Conroy failed to deliver funding to their digital radio sector after serious budget cuts.
The resulting ‘action day’ saw as many as 20,000 signatures signed on their petition in 24 hours to alert the Federal Government to account for the costs of the transition for community radio from analogue to digital in its budget.
