NEWS BRIEF: FTC Reviews EMI, Live Nation Sued, Viacom/YouTube, MySpace Japan, Livewire & More

The Federal Trade Commission is taking the lead in reviewing the sale of Citigroup-owned record label EMI to Universal. (NY Post) No word yet on what is sure to be the bigger fight in Europe.

• Producers Call Live Nation a Defamatory Bully. – A New Jersey production company claims Live Nation Entertainment defamed them as "thieves" and "broke" and tortiously interfered with their contract with the New Jersey State Fair, through "threats and false statements." (CHN)
• All Eyes on Viacom/YouTube Case After Court Rules For Veoh. (paidContent)

MORE:

• MySpace to exit Japan as Facebook and Twitter grow there. (TNW)
• Livewire Mobile has launched the first version of its Mediadrome direct-to-consumer DRM-free digital music store, showcasing Michael Bublé, Trey Songz, Disturbed, Gym Class Heroes and others through dedicated artist sites that unifiy content, music and merch.  
• Who Needs A Record Label? The 5 Best Bandcamp Albums Of 2011. (Bruce Warren on NPR)
• RIAA's Response To Infringement Via Its IP Address… Is To Note Someone Else Did It. (techdirt)
• Turns Out You Can't Identify Someone Just Based on Their iTunes Library. (Atlantic Wire)