music industry

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Indie Music Outlets Get Their Own Day

(Newser) - Some big-name acts are getting behind Record Store Day, tomorrow’s celebration of independent music stores that have become an endangered species in the Internet age, USA Today reports. “We touched a nerve. So many people are passionate about record stores,” says a rep of the industry group...

Universal, YouTube Team Up for Music Video Site

(Newser) - At last, a little peace and harmony between the music industry and the tech world. YouTube and Universal Music announced a deal today to create a new website called Vevo.com to show music videos, CNET reports. It will launch later this year, with YouTube—and parent company Google—providing...

20 Years Later, Young MC Still Busts a Move

(Newser) - It’s been 20 years since self-described “1 Hit Wonder” Young MC released Bust a Move, but the rapper is happy the song has held up as well as it has, he tells Rolling Stone. People aren’t “going to get a babysitter to go to a club...

Internet Music Retailers Race to Cut Prices

(Newser) - Faced with crumbling CD sales and a digital market without enough oomph to compensate, online music sellers are slashing prices to lure buyers, the Boston Globe reports. “It is the schoolyard crack dealer approach,” one analyst said. Amazon MP3 offers sought-after albums for $3.99, and others for...

Virgin's Stores Go Way of Dodo
 Virgin's Stores Go Way of Dodo 
Mar 4, 2009 9:57 AM CST

Virgin's Stores Go Way of Dodo

In US

(Newser) - America's last six Virgin Megastores will close their doors by this summer, the AP reports, even though they’ve managed to remain profitable amidst the economic storm. The real estate firms that bought the chain in 2007 determined they could collect more rent from new tenants. “I’ve been...

To Combat Digital Piracy, Try Stealing

Composer pitches real-world thievery to help raise awareness

(Newser) - A Hollywood composer wants you to stop illegally downloading music, and he's willing to put his freedom in jeopardy to make his point. Because the public doesn't seem to equate swapping digital files with stealing, Richard Gibbs is pushing for people to swipe other products in a nationwide "day...

Ticketmaster Mogul Says He Can Save Music

Where critics see conflict of interest, Azoff spies opportunity

(Newser) - Irving Azoff may not be a household name, but he is, in fact, "the most powerful man in the music industry," writes Ethan Smith in a Wall Street Journal profile. The head of Ticketmaster—he made his name managing the Eagles in the '70s—is now trying to...

Coldplay Tops World Chart for '08

Viva la Vida the year's bestselling album

(Newser) - Coldplay’s Viva La Vida was the best-selling album in the world last year, the BBC reports, selling 6.8 million copies. Coldplay was one of four British acts to crack the top 10. Here’s the rest of the list:
  1. AC/DC: Black Ice
  2. The Mama Mia! soundtrack

Live Nation, Ticketmaster Reveal Merger Details

Firm will be run by Live Nation's CEO

(Newser) - Live Nation and Ticketmaster made public their merger plans today, though the combined concert-promotions and ticketing powerhouse is sure to face scrutiny by antitrust regulators, the Wall Street Journal reports.The new company is to be named Live Nation Entertainment; it's estimated the two will save $40 million by combining...

Grammys Don't Get Alternative
 Grammys Don't Get Alternative 
OPINION
Feb 8, 2009 3:30 PM CST

Grammys Don't Get Alternative

A new category should recognize real indie music

(Newser) - Real alternative music acts have been shut-out at the Grammys in favor of their major-label siblings, observes James Reed in the Boston Globe. The Alternative Music category, which has been around since 1991, has never exactly been groundbreaking in its choices—an already well-known Sinead O'Connor took home the prize...

Novel Tactics Target Piracy
Novel Tactics Target Piracy
Feb 5, 2009 11:42 AM CST

Novel Tactics Target Piracy

Tax would give Isle of Man citizens unlimited downloads; Ireland will cut off miscreants

(Newser) - Two European islands are taking opposite approaches to music piracy, the results of which could influence internet policy worldwide. The Isle of Man, between England and Ireland, will charge a $1.45 weekly tax on behalf of record labels to let citizens download music without penalty. Meanwhile, Ireland’s main...

Spinal Tap Is Back
 Spinal Tap Is Back 

Feb 4, 2009 12:15 PM CST

Spinal Tap Is Back

First new album since 1992

(Newser) - Smell the glove one more time, guys. Spinal Tap is making another comeback. David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls, and Nigel Tufnel, who became mock rock legends in the 1984 mockumentary, This is Spinal Tap, are recording their first new album since 1992, reports the Sun. It will be on sale...

Live Nation, Ticketmaster Close to Merger

(Newser) - The music industry continues to reshape itself: Ticketmaster and Live Nation may announce a merger next week, the Wall Street Journal reports. The new company, called Live Nation Ticketmaster, would have ties to hundreds of top artists and expertise on everything from promoting shows—Live Nation is the world's largest...

Lisa Loeb Ties the Knot
 Lisa Loeb Ties the Knot 
Feb 1, 2009 6:37 AM CST

Lisa Loeb Ties the Knot

Singer-songwriter marries boyfriend in 'winter wonderland'

(Newser) - Singer songwriter Lisa Loeb wed her boyfriend of two years at a traditional Jewish ceremony at a Manhattan restaurant yesterday. The bride, 40, met 30-year-old hubby Roey Hershkovitz, a music coordinator for Conan O'Brien, at a business meeting, reports People. Loeb wore a strapless pink wedding gown. The reception featured...

95% of Music Downloads Illegal: Industry

40B tracks shared illegally, group claims

(Newser) - Nearly all—95%—of music downloads globally are illegal, at least according to the industry, Techdirt reports. The numbers come from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and indicate that even a 25% increase in online music purchases last year couldn’t overcome the effects of piracy. According to...

CD Sales Down 20% in 2008

(Newser) - The music industry ends 2008 in familiar territory: Sales are down for the seventh time in eight years, the Wall Street Journal reports. CD purchases dropped by 20% to 360.6 million as labels continue to adapt to the digital revolution. Apple's iTunes store moved ahead of Wal-Mart to become...

Music Industry to Dump Download Lawsuits

RIAA takes new tack in battling online file sharing

(Newser) - After five years of suing everyone from single mothers to teenage girls for illegally sharing music files, the recording industry is dropping the legal campaign that has ensnared 35,000 individuals, the Wall Street Journal reports. Instead, an industry group is making deals with Internet-service providers to warn those sharing...

Chinese Democracry No Boon for Best Buy

Chain bought exclusive sales rights to new album

(Newser) - Best Buy paid millions for exclusive sales rights to Guns N’ Roses latest effort, but of 1.3 million copies ordered, only 318,000 have left the shelves, the Wall Street Journal reports. The chain was betting Chinese Democracy would be the record of the year. Instead, it debuted at...

British Rocker Has Fans Fund New Album

For a $15 investment, you'll own a piece of Patrick Wolf's music

(Newser) - The British indie musician Patrick Wolf thinks fan involvement is the future of the music industry, and he's willing to put their money where his mouth is, NME reports. Fans who sign up through the website Bandstocks.com will be able to help fund Wolf's album—and earn perks like...

Spitzer Hooker Tunes Up
 Spitzer Hooker Tunes Up 
Nov 28, 2008 10:23 AM CST

Spitzer Hooker Tunes Up

Former call girl signs a manager

(Newser) - Former celebrity hooker Ashley Dupre has a new career in mind: musician. The call girl who brought down Eliot Spitzer has signed a manager, the New York Post reports. The infamous Dupre has made a deal with Chris Lighty, who has worked with 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, and Missy Elliott....

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