New Music Business Briefing: Microsoft Ignition, Amp’d Bankrupt, No Beatles Before ’08, Sanctuary Interest Grows & More

>>> Microsoft has a new emerging artist promotional program called Ignition which is spread across all its properties including Zune, XBox, MSN.

>>> Amp’d Mobile has filed for bankruptcy protection with more than $100 million in debt.

>>> Counterfeit CD’s, DVD’s and other good from China are flooding the European market.

>>> George Harrison’s widow says we’ll probably have to wait until 2008 for Beatles downloads. Reports have the Fab Four catalog undergoing a major sonic upgrade in preparation for the release.

>>> A new portable player Wizpy utilizes the TurboLinux platform.

>>> Financial ratings firm Fitch warns WMG that it will issue a Negative Ratings Watch if the company makes another bid for EMI. 

>>> Slacker, a kind of portable Pandora complete with its own player, has grabbed $40 million more in funding.

>>> Buyout interest in embattled Sanctuary is growing including WMG, Universal and now a private equity group.