NEWS BRIEF: Orchard Buys IRIS, Samsung + mSpot, FB Apps, Sony Slides, Spotify Payouts Up & More

(UPDATED) As rumored for weeks, The Orchard has bought indie digital music distributor IRIS. Former competitor IODA already merged with The Orchard earlier this year. 

• Samsung bought online music and media locker service mSpot, and says they'll load it on all new phones. (Business Indsider) Not good news for Google Music and other Android based competitors.
• Sony posts record loss as revenue slides 9.% in the fiscal year ending March 31, and losses hit $5.55B (CNet) While the music division posted a profit of $463 million on sales of $5.5 billion., some cost cutting in music seem inevitable.

 MORE:

• Facebook says it will open its own paid and free App Center store within weeks, even as it downgrades expectations to investors for mobile growth and income.
• Spotify rival WiMP has global ambitions, too – now it needs cash. (paidContent)
• UK gets streaming music chart compiled by the Official Charts Company with data from the Spotify, Deezer, Napster, We7, Zune (XBox Live) and mobile phone start-up ChartsNow and supported by the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) and record labels association The BPI. A simliar chart is launching in Germany.
• Report Shows Big Increase in Spotify’s Payouts to Indie Labels (Evolver.fm)
• Own An iPod? Then You’re Suing Apple [VIDEO] (Mashable)
• Web based pr resource StoryAmp's free users can now have concerts & releases sent to the email inboxes of relevant  journalists 3X's.
• Adrian Moreira has been promoted to SVP of Promotion at RCA Records.