MGMT Reach Settlement with French Government, Start Working on Second Album

MGMT's 'Kids' was used in an ad for the French political party Union for a Popular Movement without permission and this made the band go crazy because the very same party was cracking down on filesharers. After agreeing not to sue they reached a settlement with the French government and will be donating the money to artists rights organizations. This is the statement that the band put out on the incident:

About two months ago it was brought to our attention (through the MGMT message board) that the UMP French political party was using our song “Kids” at rallies and posting videos of these rallies on their official website. Normally MGMT steers clear of mixing music and politics, but the fact that the UMP used our song without permission while simultaneously pushing anti-piracy legislation seemed a little wack. We believe that access to music benefits both the musicians and the fans, and has undoubtedly helped spread our music around the globe, while also expanding our personal musical collections. We didn’t want to be “typical Americans” and sue, despite the amazing monetary benefit and chinchilla coats and Navigators it would bring. Instead we’re using the settlement fee the UMP presented and donating it to artists rights organizations. Thank you France for the wonderful food. C’est bon. -MGMT

The band have also been working on their second album. They are recording in the Catskill region of New York, and California to change the nature of their sound. They told Australian radio station Triple J: "That was part of our idea that we were going to be locking ourselves up in the middle of winter, all cold and depressed,” said Goldwasser. “And then move somewhere where we’ll be out on the beach and enjoying ourselves in the sunny weather, try to get some different influences. Some of the songs are definitely a little more introspective and then there’s definitely some more surfy, beachy stuff going on."

MGMT - Weekend Wars (Live on KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic) [zshare]