Music Biz News: MySpace Layoffs Begin, Doug Morris, Verizon iPhone, Hit Song Science & More

• MySpace layoffs begin:  MySpace China slashes staff and CEO (Digital Trends) As the company looks for a buyer, the bulk of the layoffs will reportedly happen today and total as much many as 500-600 of its 1000+ staff. (more)
• New reports are surfacing that UMG Chairman Doug Morris is try to negotiate an early exit from his Universal contract to head Sony. (Bloomberg)
• Built your iPhone app yet?  Verizon is expected to announce it will begin selling the iPhone today at 11ET. (live coverage)

More Music Industry News:

• Facebook begins all users to its new Profile design … like it or not. (TechCrunch)
• Universal donates 200,000 vintage recordings to U.S. Library of Congress. (LA Times, NPR, NYT)
• What Makes a Hit Song? Science Tries to Find the Answer. (Evolver.fm) I wonder what Jay Frank thinks of this.
• Hacked iTunes accounts are no longer for sale in China. (PC)
• More Music Sold Than Ever Before, Despite Piracy. (TorrentFreak) 
• Five Ways The Verizon iPhone Will Change The Mobile Landscape. (TC)
• Lessons Learned: Virgil Dickerson with Suburban Home Records. (PC)
• YouTube For Music? That’s SoundCloud, Says Alexander Ljung. (MM) 
• Better Grooveshark Adds Lyrics, Ad Removal to the Web-Based Music Service. (LH)
• RIP rock'n'roll? Professor of pop reads the last rites. (Guadian)
• Rap Pioneer Bobby Robinson Dies at 93. (AOL) 
• EMI End Near. (TMV) 
• Live & Dangerous: Great Concerts from Around the World. (HP)