Hypebot’s New Music Business Week In Review: Amazon To Launch, Sony Dis-Connects, Nicoli Out At EMI & Much More

Just cause we don’t want you to miss a thing….

>>> Amazon will finally launch its DRM-free download store in mid-September. It’s about time!

>>> (Try to act surprised when your read this.) Sony announced it will shut down its Connect Music store and adopt Microsoft’s DRM platform with future players.

>>> Legendary Long Island, NY indie music store Looney Tunes was destroyed in a fire, but the owners promise to rebuild.

>>> EMI Chairmen Eric Nicoli is out as investment firm Terra Firma completes taking the major label group private again. The fate of other EMI execs and staffers remains in doubt.

>>>Hypebot has an exclusive interview with the CEO of Speakerheart whose service enables direct downloads from web sites and blogs by indie and D.I.Y. artists. They’ve got lots of competition but a unique approach.

>>> As more and more download services add DRM free music, Hypebot asks where are the millions of tracks from indie labels?  Hint: It’s not the labels’ fault.

>>> Digital music distributor INgroove’s and One Digital have added film and video.

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