HYPEBOT FEATURES:
- Is music becoming a "modest niche business". Should we care?
- Big changes at EMI's Capital and Virgin
- eMusic adds classical labels. Says free samplers sell music.
- EMI Publishing promotes two execs
> Microsoft's Rob Bennett defends the decision to shut down MSN
Music's licensing servers. "...Every time there is an OS upgrade, the DRM equation gets complex very quickly...Every time, you saw support issues. People would call in because they couldn't download licenses. We had to write new code, new configurations each time...We really believe that, going forward, the best thing to do is focus exclusively on Zune." (cNet) Best thing for who?
> Nokia adds several music smartphones to compete with the iPhone. (TechWeb)
> New nostalgia music, film and TV site Getback.com has launched. Shawn Amos and some execs from Shout! Factory are part of the team.
> Warner Music to hold an earnings conference call on Thursday, May 8th. Details here.
> Little Big Town has signed with Capitol Nashville. Capitol will also acquire the band's two previous records released on Equity Records - the 1.3 million selling Road To Here and A Place To Land released in November.
> A look at NYC indie store Other Music's successful move into digital. (BusinessWeek)
