New Music Business Week In Review

>>> Concert giant Live Nation appears unlikely to renew its deal with Ticketmaster which could mean big changes for fans of live music.

>>> MTV is dropping its URGE download store deal with Microsoft and partnering with Real’s Rhapsody and Verizon in a new multifacted music venture dubbed Rhapsody America. Hypebot live blogged the event.

>>> An exclusive interview with international indie trade group Merlin’s CEO Charles Caldas.

>>> Wal-Mart has added DRM-free mp3’s from Universal and EMI.

>>> Talks on internet broadcast royalty rates are finally making progress.

>>> Rhino killed free music downloads for fans of the Grateful Dead on official Dead.net

>>> The Future Of Music Coalition seeks a DC based intern.

>>> A French internet company is offering a free Universal Music subscription service along with its broadband service.

>>> Music widget creator Sonific is opening up its Songspot service for free to all indie labels.

>>> A hack which turned every song streamed on MySpace into a free download was shut down. Now the programmer is offering the code free on the net.

>>> TheRockDose offers a daily dose of music wisdom.