AM News Brief: Quake Hits Sony, Musicians Could Lose $35M, YouTube Jobs, Facebook Apps & More

We post a roundup of music business news mid-morning (ET) each weekday and when warranted add a PM update late in the afternoon. For breaking news follow @hypebot on Twitter.

• Sony and other Japanese electronics firms grapple with massive quake effects. (CNet)
• Billionaire Californian retail investor Ron Burkle has emerged as an early frontrunner to buy Warner Music Group. (Sky News)
• Canadian rights organization CSI says that if proposed copyright legislation passes, it would reduce by $34.9 million the revenue songwriters and music publishers receive  from licensing.  That would be a 45% drop in annual royalties collected by CMRRA-SODRAC.
• YouTube (music's killer app according to Mark Mulligan) is on a hiring spree. Here's a list of job openings. Reports point to a 30% increase in headcount.

MORE:

• The Top 20 Facebook Music Apps. (Epicenter)
• VoxPop Worldwide has acquired R&R Music Limited (R&R) for undisclosed terms.
• Radio broadcaster Cumulus  is spending $1.73 billion to but rival Citadel. (Reuters)
• Free' Culture advocates discuss models for sustainable creativity. (Techdirt)
• Hypebot's SXSW Contest with Sharesquare: Starting now and ending at 11:59pm PST on March 20, ShareSquare will be tracking the bands using their app and getting the most scans.  When the dust settles, the top 5 will be crowned the “Most Scanned Bands” and receive the opulence that comes with it.  The fame: bonus press on Hypebot and do512.com plus a ShareSquare package worth $6000.