Friday’s Music 2.0 Briefing: MySpace Updates, Hein To Live Nation, $13M To OurStage & Much More

HYPEBOT FEATURES:

• Walmart pulls downloads from SonyBMG and WMG
• An in depth look at the launch of MySpace Music
• MySpace Music – 5 Winner & 5 Losers
• eMusic has added the Rolling Stones ABKCO catalog
• Napster posted stronger quarterly results
• iTunes claims the #1 retailer slot
• RockBand music sales vs. early iTunes

> MYSPACE MUSIC UPDATES:

• No guaruntee that all downloads will be DRM-free
• Indie labels will be involved

> Bill Hein who just left as head of Caroline will be heading Live Nation Artist’s new recorded music division. (Billboard)

> CD sales are an improper proxy to measure the purchase demand for music. (Seeking Alpha)

> From MySpace to Live Nation, a look at the changing face of the music industry. (Hollywood Reporter)

> SpiralFrog adds tracks from digital distributor BFM. (press release) BFM also just made a Limewire deal.

> An interesting look inside OurStage’s first round funding of $13 million. "If you look at the music business, the real hit rate is even worse than it is for VCs–it’s one in 20, one in 30," says OurStage Inc. founder and chief executive Ben Campbell. (TechConfidential) Read Hypebots recent 4QFor interview with Campell here.

> A Visa bill has passed the US House that may make it easier for foreign musicians to toru here. (NYTimes)