New Business Briefing: Yahoo Gets Lyrical, Qtrax Adds SonyBMG, EMI Swirls, Apple Stands Tough & Much More

>>> Yahoo! and Gracenote have joined forces for a lyric
search offering. Previous efforts have been hugely successful but powered
by unlicensed content. (Reuters)

>>> Ad supported Qtrax has added Sony BMG to its growing list of agreements.  The service which feels like a P2P is set to launch on late summer or Fall and allows 5 add supported plays before forcing a buy for continued listening. (press release)

>>> More and more press is confirming what we’ve been telling you for weeks, Amazon is close to the launch (probably May) of an mp3 only digital download offering.

>>> The EMI waters keep swirling with  WMG and private equity groups reportedly  preparing fresh bids and the London based major label unveiling plans to suspend dividends and borrow against its huge and profitable publishing catalog. (UK TimesOnline)

>>> Rumors have Apple sticking with its usual aggressive stand in major label negotiations just getting underway.  Jobs is said to be demanding DRM free tracks but unwilling to budge on any of the features like variable pricing and bundling that the labels seek.

>>> Russell Simmons shares his plans to clean up hip hop. In brief: No mo bitch, nigger or ho. (press release) Simplistic maybe, but an important start.

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