Music Industry Miscellany & The Week In Review

>>> The offcial SXSW showcase lineup has been announced…finally.

>>> Entertainment industry trade publication Variety opened free access to its web site and launches a digital edition.

>>> Starbucks is releasing a CD of music created by its staff.

The Week In Review:

• EMI is floating a proposal that would have it selling downloads of it’s catalog as DRM free mp3’s.
• Rick Rubin to co-chair Columbia Records.
• Indie music is being re-centralized as labels band together in associations and fans flock to MySpace and other aggregators.
• Quarterly earnings reports show distributor Navarre’s sales dropping 2.3%, Warner Music Group profits dropping 70% causing a drop in stock prices and Napster’s revenues rose but profits were cut by half.
• News, new strategies, and trends in touring were all part The Concert Industry Consortium in LA this week (news round-up).  Ozzie used the occasion to announce that tickets to this year’s Ozzfest would be free.
• Check out our weekly roundup of hip hip news from ProHipHop.com.