Thursday’s Music Briefing: MTV Layoffs, More Bankruptcies, Mobile MySpace Video & More

HYPEBOT FEATURES:

• Inside The Major Label Negotiations Over DRM With iTunes
• Amazon MP3 UK: A Quick Second Look
• Sniper Twins Court Corporations: Sellout Or Smart?
• A List Of & Listen To The 2009 Grammy Nominees
• Vote For Top Music Site In Mashable’s Web Awards
• UK Indie Giant Pinnacle In Bankruptcy Administration
• iTunes Top Selling Albums & Songs Of 2008

MORE NEWS:

• Viacom is laying off 7% or 850 people globally including as many as 300 from MTV. (Gawker)
• 
  Yesterday it was giant UK indie distributor Pinnacle going into recievership. Today German vinyl distributor Neuton follows in the footsteps of UK vinyl distributor Amato and Japanese distributor Cisco into insolvency. Neuton distributed electronic labels such as Four Twenty, Tresor, Vakant, and Perlon. (Billboard)
• MySpace launches a worldwide mobile video streaming service. (press release)
• Pitchfork and Fader are joining forces with ad sales, marketing and several joint ventures. (AdAge)
• The Top 20 Youth Marketing Bloggers recommended by mobileYouth
• Music industry promotion vet David Sherbow has started blogging at Music Biz Reality Check.
• 
  Who says Music 2.0 marketing is just for the young? Sony Music is giving Elvis Presley fans the opportunity to sing a Christmas duet with The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll. The “Sing With The King” ecard makes it possible for fans to record their own version of Presley’s classic ‘Blue Christmas.’ The ecard uses the same technology that allowed Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, and others to sing along with Presley on the “Elvis Presley Christmas Duets” CD. Check it out at SingWithTheKing.com.
• R.I.P – Grammy Award winning folk/blues artist Odetta. Video after the jump.