New Music Business Briefing: MTV Gets Game(s), Wired Dumps On Free Download Site & Much More

>>> MTV‘s march away from music continues. The network says it will invest $500 million in next two years in gaming. The goal is to create games that extend the brands of MTV’s most popular shows. (Reuters)

>>> Wired’s Listening Post feels less than warm and fuzzy about new "free" download site YourFreeMusicDownloads.com. (more)

>>> Dance brand Ministry of Sound claims to have been generating click through rates as high as 5-9% after launching pre-roll online video ads – well higher than the industry average for banners of under 1%. (e-consultancy via Coolfer)

>>> RIAA and labels have not yet paid the legal bills of acquitted defendant Debbie Foster and she’s not too happy about it. (ARS)

>>> The contract between AFTRA musicians and the record labels expired on June 30th and negotiations are getting contentious. (FMQB)

>>> R.I.P.  Legendary Jazz drummer Max Roach at 83. (bio)