Wednesday’s Music Briefing: CIMS Looses Leader, GPhone, Janet Jackson D.I.Y. & More

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  Don Van Cleave will exit his position as executive director of the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) at year’s end to join Gary Gersh’s Artists Organization in an executive management position. The company manages The Counting Crows, John Legend and Matisyahu among others. The CIMS board is interviewing candidates to fill the position which remain in Birmingham. (Billboard)
• Yesterday Google and T-Mobile unveiled the first GPhone powered by Android open source software yesterday and it includes an app that enables Amazon mp3 downloads via wi-fi.  It will cost $179 with a to year commitment. View two video walk throughs after the jump. The second video focuses more on software including a push GMail app.  What music apps do you think developers should create for the open source Android?
• Janet Jackson
  D.I.Y. – "More than 20 years after the release of her iconic album, Control, Janet will have autonomy over her career, without the restrictions of a label system," her publicist said in a statement. "Always known to break new ground and set trends, Janet’s departure from Island makes her one of the first superstar artists to have the individual freedom to promote their work through a variety of avenues such as iTunes, mobile carriers and other diverse and innovative channels."
• Coverage of the EconMusic Conference. (paidcontent)
• RoyaltyShare plans new Digital Music Tracking Service. (press release)
• Media trading site Swaptree grabbed $3.35 million in funding. Users can trade CD’s, DVD’s, video games and books at no charge other than the cost of shipping. (press release) Since no cash is changing hands would it be legal to trade mp3’s?  Would anyone bother?