hypebot

Qtrax To ReLaunch June 18th.

According to the site's front page, Qtrax will begin offering the free ad supported music in the US that it promised to months ago starting this Wednesday, June 18th. This time they much more label support. EMI, Universal Sony BMG, Beggars Group and TVT have now publicly stated they will support Qtrax as have many major publishers. Stay tuned for details ...

Music 2.0 Week In Review: EMI Changes, BMG Sale, T-Pain & More

> Jason Flom follows Lee Trink out of the Capital Executive Suite plus commentary.

• Neither exec will be replaced. Can it work? Take our poll
• Text of a leaked EMI internal memo on the changes.

> BMG is close to closing a $1.2-$1.5 sale to Sony

> T-Pain launches his Nappy Boy Digital label.

> French service has unlimited downloads for a flat fee. Why can't they do this everywhere?

> Universal lost a lawsuit to stop re-sale of promos

> Metallica apologized to blogs blaming management

> Major pre-release pirate is arrested

> Indie trade group Merlin posts some impressive numbers

Orange Offers Unlimited Downloads

Yesterday France's Orange opened Musique Max, an unlimited download service for PC and mobile.

• Over a million titles from all four major labels (EMI Music France, Sony BMG, Universal Music France and Warner Music) and two independents, Believe and Scorpio Music.
• Downloads to PCs or mobile phones, with automatic synchronization of music libraries using Orange Media Player.
• All titles downloaded using Musique Max can be kept for an unlimited period and transferred to five other digital media such as music players and compatible mobiles.
• Musique Max costs €12 per month, with no time commitment.

If they can do this in France, why not everywhere?

Friday's Music Briefing: Radio Royalties, MySpace Makeover & Much More

HYPEBOT FEATURES -

• French service has unlimited downloads for a flat fee. Why can't they do this everywhere?
• Universal lost a lawsuit to stop re-sale of promos
• Metallica apologized to blogs blaming management
• This week's CIMS indie charts
• VOTE: "Can A Label Run Without A President"

> A move to charge broadcast radio performance royalties is gaining steam in Congress and a bi-product may be fairer rates for internet radio as well. (RAIN)

> MySpace is launching a major redesign next week including a new homepage, simplified navigation, a more streamlined and cleaner profile builder, improved search, and a redesigned MySpaceTV player. (PaidContent)

> Alternate reality game makers 42 Entertainment will be featured speakers at the upcoming Bandwidth Music and Tech Conference August 14-14 in SF. (press release) Hypebot will have full conference coverage.

> AOL Radio which now includes 100 CBS Radio stations will soon be available for free iPhone streaming. (FMQB)

> The Musicians Union is suing American Idol claiming musicians are underpaid. (AP)

No Stopping Sales Of Promo CD's

UNIVERSAL LOOSES COURT RULING

Grab your review copies and call your friends at the labels! Universal sued an online retailer who often re-sold promo CD's.  The courts ruled against the label group saying his actions were covered under "fair sale doctrine". Here's the pdf of the ruling.

Metallica Aplogizes To Blogs, Blames Mgt.

If you haven't been following the silliness, Metallica invited a few bloggers to a listening party for their new CD, then demanded take-downs when they posted reviews.  Now the band is saying it was all a misunderstanding and their management is to blame. From Metallica.com:

"While we occasionally enjoy reading the various comments, rumors, speculation, reviews, gossip and all the good that the internet brings, rarely do we feel the desire/need to respond to the "blogosphere" . . . hey, everyone is entitled to have their thoughts and opinions, right? However...

Coalition of Independent Music Stores Charts Chart For 6-11-08

CIMS Top 30 Debuts for 6-10-08
1 MY MORNING JACKET EVIL URGES
2 LIL WAYNE THA CARTER III
3 PLIES DEFINITION OF REAL
4 N.E.R.D. SEEING SOUNDS
5 HARRIS,EMMYLOU ALL I INTENDED TO BE
6 DYLAN,JAKOB SEEING THINGS
7 SUPERGRASS DIAMOND HOO HA
8 MORISSETTE,ALANIS FLAVORS OF ENTANGLEMENT
9 WIDENSPREAD PANIC CARBONDALE 2000
10 FRATELLIS HERE WE STAND

Read the rest of the CIMS Top 30 debuts + the Vinyl and Top 200 charts after the jump.

Flom Exits Capitol. Are Label Heads Dinosaurs?

Sources have confirmed that Jason Flom, who heads EMI's recorded-music operations in North America as chairman of Capitol Music Group, is negotiating an exit. He follows Capitol President Lee Trink whose last day at the company is June 30th. Trink also told the Wall Street Journal, "Their view is that there is no local management. There is no such thing as a president of Capitol Records going forward."

COMMENTARY - In our ongoing poll, 66% of Hypebot readers have voted either that label presidents were a costly waste (18%) or at least that running without them was a worthy experiment (48%) . I totally disagree. My understanding of the changes...

Pearl Jams Offers Verizon Mobile Bootlegs

Pearl Jam is expanding the band's bootleg program for their 12-city U.S. tour via Verizon Wireless. Verizon customers will have exclusive mobile access to to new live recordings. Pearl Jam will also be supporting Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program that turns unused wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence by holding phone collection drives at each venue.

The Pearl Jam Mobile Bootleg Program:

Pre-Release Pirate Arrested

UK police have arrested a man suspected of selling a "vast quantity" of pre-release albums on eBay, weeks before their official release.  The man, a DJ and music reviewer based in London, was arrested on suspicion of theft and money laundering. The case centres on the alleged sale of pre-release copies of albums by artists including Foals, Delays, Grand National and Kelly Rowland.

If charges are brought, it is thought this would be the first ever prosecution involving the sale of pre-release music in the UK.

More: IFPI

Thursday's Music 2.0 Briefing: Live Nation Bickering, New Harp, RAA $'s & More

HYPEBOT FEATURES:

• Jason Flom follows Lee Trink out of the Capital Executive Suite plus commentary.
• Neither exec will be replaced. Can it work? Take our poll.
• BMG is close to closing a $1.2-$1.5 sale to Sony
• EMI unlocks the BBC vaults
• Major pre-release pirate is arrested
  
• Merlin posts some impressive numbers

> A look inside the tug of war between Live Nation executives over doing more expensive 360 deals with superstars. (WSJ) Billboard says its gotten so bad that Chairmen Michael Cohl may be on the way out.

> Founder and former of Harp Magazine Scott Crawford is launching BLURT, a new music digital magazine and website. Joined by Managing Editor Fred Mills, Senior Editor Randy Harward, Associate Editor Andy Tennille and Contributing Editor A.D. Amorosi, BLURT will cover "modern music and entertainment".

> RIAA is doubling the settlement costs for students fighting subpoenas.(ars) Now that's building loyalty in tne next generation of fans!

> Wal-Mart sold 104K of its new exclusive Journey album in the first week. (press release) Not bad considering the band doesn't even have the original lead singer.

> Jon Folk has been named VP of Buddy Lee Attractions. He joined the BLA team 14 years ago  and is Responsible Agent (RA) for the Honky Tonk Tailgate Party and others.

BMG In Advanced $1.2-$1.5B Sale Talks

FT Deutschland is reporting that Bertelsmann is trying to sell its 50% stake in Sony BMG for $1.5 billion over the next 4 to 6 weeks, but may only get $1.2 - $1.3 billion. FTD's unamed source says talks are “well advanced”.

Bertelsmann’s revenue from Sony BMG fell 27% to €1.5 billion in 2007 which in part came from the sale of their publishing company. A recent 40% increase in digital music sales has not been enough to counter the 17% slide in CD sales last year. Industry wide declines are hovering around 16% for 2008.

via PaidContent

EMI Unlocks BBC Vaults

EMI and BBC Worldwide have struck a deal to release EMI related material from the network's extensive archive of TV and radio recordings. In return the BBC will have the opportunity to use EMI artists’ performances to create new programming which can be sold to international broadcasters and consumers.

SliceThePie Adds Pandora's Brown To Board

Slicethepie, the UK based online artist financing site, has added Paul Brown to the board, as Commercial Director.  Paul will combine his new role with his current position as Managing Director, International at Pandora.Previously Director of Digital Business at Sony BMG Music UK, Brown spent 6 years working...

Merlin's Impressive Numbers

• Represents Biggest Bundle Of Rights Outside the Four Major Labels
• 8% Share of US Market
• European Members Command 72% of Top 60 Independent Albums For The Past Three Years
• UK Members Command 75% Market Share Of The Top 75 Independent albums of 2007

Merlin's mission, collective bargaining, is the best hope that indie labels have to get their fair share of revenues generated from music 2.0 services like Last.FM, MySpace and YouTube. Now that Merlin has critical mass lets hope that deals follow...soon. Todays Merlin press release shares some impressive stats:

Text Of Leaked EMI Memo On Trink, Ralfini

Here is the full text of the leaked Capital EMI memo on the departure of Capital Records head Lee Trick and the temporary replacement, Ian Ralfini, GM of Blue Note Label Group's Manhattan Records who will head only marketing.

Organization Announcement:
EMI Music North America Marketing

Lee Trink will be stepping down from his position as President of Capitol Music Group at the end of June.  He will be working closely with the company to ensure a smooth transition.  Since first joining EMI as GM and EVP of Virgin Records in 2006, and during his time at Capitol, Lee has been instrumental in building upon careers for artists and breaking emerging talent. We would like to thank him for his contribution to EMI and want to wish him well in his future pursuits.

Ian Ralfini, GM of Blue Note Label Group's Manhattan Records, has agreed....

More T-Pain Label Details

Yesterday, artist and producer T-Pain announced the formation of his own full service Nappy Boy Digital label. (full story here). Julia Kadarusman, a spokesperson for the label answered a few questions about the new venture:

Q: Is T-Pain releasing his own music via the new label or is he still tied to a major?
A: T-Pain remains a Konvict/Jive Records (Sony BMG) recording artist.

It's Official: Capitol's Trink Out

EMI has confirmed that Capital Music Group President Lee Trink is officially out as of the end of the month. It's all part of a broader restructuring effort at parent EMI. 

The fate of Virgin's Jason Flom has not been confirmed. (more)

Wednesday's Briefing: EMI, T-Pain, Merlin & More

HYPEBOT FEATURES:

• Lee Trink is out at Capital.  Is Virgin's Jason Flom next?
• Text of a leaked EMI internal memo on the changes.
• POLL: EMI is cutting label heads to let A&R and marketing head their own operations. Can a label run without a President? VOTE HERE.
• T-Pain launches his Nappy Boy Digital label. We've got details.
• XM settles EMI Inno lawsuit
• Video: P. Diddy "I did NOT change my name."
  

> Indie music trade group Merlin has hit 12,000 members and is talks with Last.fm, MySpace Music and others. (Variety) Impressive numbers, but its time for a breakthrough...

> Yahoo! Music got a redesign with more emphasis on music news and concerts plus song lyrics and the FoxyTunes player app. (MarketNews)

> Radio AOL has relaunched with 200 net stations alongside 150 CBS Radio local offerings. (press release)

> Metallica is stopping early blog reviews of their new CD...after inviting writers to preview 6 tracks.(Listening Post) Sad...

> Sony UK is giving away free music video downloads from 7Digital with every new Walkman. (7Digital)

> SanDisk has acquired mp3 player manufacturer Music Gremlin (press release)

> Chasing the long tail: Here Japan is an English language web site offeriing only the music of Japan but in all its forms from traditional to rock and beyond.

Video: P. Diddy "I Did Not Change My Name"