Sorry for somewhat abbreviated editions of Hypebot the last two days. I'm both battling a bug and traveling. A truly fun combination. I promise to cover (or at least point you towards coverage) and be back at full force in a day or two. - Bruce Houghton
Warner Music Group and YouTube are talking again about royalties and getting WMG bands back on the popular video service.. (cNet)
- Microsoft is gearing up to launch a music streaming service similar to Spotify by the end of this month. (Telegraph) This may be UK only for now. I've asked for clarification.
- Report: EMI is cutting back on the number of small record stores that it will sell to direct. (Wayne's World) Has anyone gotten these calls? I'd love to here more.
- A look at how a handful of record stores like the UK's Rough Trade and US' Amoeba are reinventing themselves and thriving. (FT)
Pandora now pushing radio to pay for music, too. - US radio stations don't pay performers and producers for the music they play, but the recording industry hopes to change that with a new performance rights bill in Congress. Webcaster Pandora has jumped into the fray on the side of the artists and labels, asking why radio gets a free ride when Pandora does not. (ars)
- Bob Frank is leaving E1/Koch and Alan Grunblatt has been promoted to president. (Billboard)
- OurStage raising more funding. (TechCrunch)
- 10 Weird Ways To Distribute Music. (Epicenter)
