New Music Business Briefing: Beatles Downloads, Live Nation Adds Ticketing, Senate May Aid Net Radio & More

>>> The new Paul McCartney Starbucks/Hear album will be available for download when it is released on June 5th. This marks the first time the Beatle has been available digitally. And sources tell Billboard that The Beatles via download is finally "all but settled".

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Concert giant Live Nation posted wider losses 1st Q losses of $45.6 million yesterday.  But the more interesting news was a new offering of advance and preferred seating for Live Nation events via an increasingly beefed up LiveNation.com.  Not only will this drive traffic to the web site and build fan satisfaction; it could also signal a broader move to take over all ticketing when the company’s contract with Ticketmaster comes up for renewal next year.

>>> The US Senate has joined the House with its own version of a bill designed to save internet radio. (RAIN)

>>> The EU appears set to approve Universal’s bid for BMG Publishing.

>>> Dimensional, the investment firm who owns and is rumored to be trying to sell eMusic and The Orchard has just sold its publishing unit.

>>> Just in case Hypebot’s roundups of recent industry news aren’t enough for you, here’s the latest occasional "Heady Links" from our pals at the Live Music Blog.