More Music News Tues. 8/18/09: Labels Love Spotify, Gov’t Sides With RIAA, “Ripped”, KISS & More

• The real reason why the major labels love Spotify: "No wonder the majors speak so highly of Spotify – they receive 18% of shares in the online streaming service. It's justy a pity that artists won't get to see any of this." (Guardian)
• Obama's Justice Department defends massive file-swapping fine. (CNet, DOJ Brief)
• You can read Chapter 1 of  "Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music" by Greg Kot via the New York Times. Hypebot's Kyle Bylin did an extensive interview with the author last month.
• If they won't pay for a download…Indie music destination INSOUND gives 10 classic indie bands the fashion t-shirt treatment. (INSOUND Classic 10)
• Universal Music Group, the largest of the four major recording
  companies, has agreed to a multi-year deal that calls for BigChampagne
  to help track the popularity of the label's music online.
  Traditionally, Universal has relied on Nielsen's SoundScan for such
  chores. (CNet)
• Amazon's CreateSpace has announced that New Line Records, Sony Pictures and Lionsgate have made a selection of soundtracks for each production company’s movie and TV show titles available to Amazon.com customers through the CreateSpace on-demand service. (press release)
• KISS invades WalMart. (FMQB)