Music Biz News: Live Nation Layoffs, Spotify’s Gaze Still Fixed On The U.S., EMI Handover Nears & More

• Spotify: 'We haven't given up on the US'. (BBC). Also, they teamed up with Logitech to stream into your Hi-Fi. (TC)
  
• Layoffs and reductions have claimed 300 – 500 jobs at concert giant Live Nation in recent weeks, according to Pollstar is reporting that. Lee Smith, former president of the LN San Francisco office, left his post at the end of 2010 and now former Avalon cheif Brian Murphy has left a senior position at Live Nation LA for a job at rival AEG.
• EMI could be handed over to Citigroup within weeks. (Guardian)

More Music Industry News & Commentary:

• 2011: A progressive agenda for the music industry. (JS)
• RIAA Admits P2P Not Solely to Blame for Decreased Music Sales. (ZP)
• RIAA erroneously awarded multiple platinum awards to Shania Twain and Santanta. (AV)
• Top Six Artist Vs. Record Label Feuds. (HP)
• Stopping illegal file sharing a low priority for DOJ? (CNET) 
• Biggest Ever BitTorrent Piracy Settlement is Intriguing. (TF)
• 10 Digital Music Predictions For 2011. (NME)
• Viinyl is About.Me for the Music Industry. (NM) 
• How can you monetise free? Answers from music marketeer Virginie Berger, Trent Reznor, Misteur Valaire & more. (MidemBlog)
• AudioRokit.co.uk lists which record labels, publishers and managers are currently looking to sign new acts, as well as gig opportunities.
• We all have megaphones to one degree or another. How will you use yours? (GH) 
• Myna Music’s smart mixes take recommendation to the next level. (TNW) 
• Is Ultimate Chart Overhyped? Its Top 10 is Nearly Identical to Billboard's. (RWW)
• Passion 2011: Chris Tomlin And The Christian Rock Revolution. (HP)
• Pandora Picks Gluster to Manage Data Storage. (TM) 
• Rumor: Verizon to offer unlimited data plans for iPhone users. (Ars)
• Your Music In The Cloud No More – blueTunes Keels Over, Dies. (TC)
• Best Buy Holiday Revenues Down 1.6%; U.S. Store Sales Dip 5%. (DMW)