New Music Business Briefing: Jamendo Grabs $’s, McD’s Adds Music To Menu, Thoughts On EMI & Much More

>>> Jamendo, a site that gives away 40,000 Creative Commons tracks sharing the ad revenue with artists, has grabbed first round funding from the usually savvy Mangrove Partners. (announcement) Maybe I’m missing something…but given the open availability of all Creative Commons tracks, is this really a unique or needed business model worthy of funding?

>>> Korn is the subject of a new short episode series on multi-platform HD KushTV. (press release) The band also announced that they will be recording an all cover album.  It’s certainly an easy way to earn back some of that zillion $ advance that EMI gave them in "groundbreaking partnership".

>>> Music continues to be the marketing hook of choice as McDonald’s sponsors a series of free emerging act concerts in restaurant parking lots. (Billboard)

>>> Harry Fox has added new express licensing pacts with Bullroar, MSongStore and band Gov’t Mule.

>>> Some thoughts from the British press on Terra Firma’s purchase of EMI and what it means for the company and the music industry. (Independent and The Financial Times).

Our thoughts: It’s a sad day when the last stand-alone major gets bought by an investment group.  But is the now boss any worse than the old boss – stockholders? Probably not; and maybe even a bit less fickle.  It’s doubtful that the new owners will suddenly take a long term view of artist development, but perhaps as outsiders they will cut the fat (How many VP’s does one company need, after all?) and continue the bold digital moves that EMI has made lately.