News Brief: Warner Bros SVP Welt Exits, Google Mobile Payments, Sony JP Hacked, Digital Tax & More

EXCLUSIVE: Jeremy Welt, Warner Bros Records popular SVP of New Media is leaving the label according to two sources. There has been no official comment from Welt or WMG. With Welt moving on and Ethan Kaplan's recent departure, there's a huge hole in digital at WBR.

• Google plans to unveil a mobile payment service tomorrow. (Bloomberg) Expect many more mobile payment initiative announcements in the coming weeks.
• Hacked: Sony Music Japan and Sony Ericsson join the list of Sony sites hacked.
• How will states tax Internet downloads? Congress may decide. (ars)

MORE:

• Managers Anna Jacobson-Leong and Joey Simmrin join The Collective.
• Nederlander Concerts has promoted Paola Palazzo to Vice President of Talent.
• EU proposes revisions to digital piracy laws – A new plan would unify the bloc's digital market and expand anti-piracy measures. But European digital rights advocacy groups worry that the proposals go too far. (DW-World.de)
• The rock poster goldrush. Would you pay six figures for a vintage rock poster? (Guardian)
• A behind the scenes look at Tuncore including an initiative that would help artists get paid when their music appeared in online streaming videos. (Tunecore)
• 81% of iTunes libraries are never played says Music WithMe (MusicAlly)