> A look at the increasing number of indie bands that are ignoring major labels and going the D.Y.I. online root. (LA Times)
> Sony Studios tries to compete in the D.I.Y. era with budget pro mastering for indie acts. (AOL)
> 14 more have lost their jobs. The end of the year downsizing continues as the Verve jazz label gets folded into Bruce Resnikoff’s re-issue imprint Universal Music Enterprises. They clain they are stills signing new acts, however. (Variety)
> Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Songs Of The Year (Rolling Stone)
> Famed music journalist Robert Christgau is back via MSN. (MSN)
> Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertugen is seriously ill. (Reuters)
> Major label act Jason Mraz is offering a digital only live release powered by Musicane via his website only. (here) The format give the artist control to sell only the full album at a price greater than the $9.99 allowed at iTunes and other download stores as well as avoid the costs associated with a physical release.
The music industry is still a boys club. (LA Times)
>A Forrester study shows that iTunes and other download sales are flat leaving some in the industry to wonder what the future holds. (Register UK) Please don’t say ringtones.
