Music Industry News

For Musicians, Economy is the Mother of Invention

Source: Michael Ricci
May 13, 2010

Enterprising music makers are turning to the Internet and micro-financing through donations.

Los Angeles singer and songwriter Sam Phillips turned up recently for a small-scale show at Hollywood's Hotel Caf. Playing for an intimate audience of several dozen, she was testing on a live audience new material she's been working on in her home recording studio. But for a select few regular visitors to her website, the new songs weren't so new they'd been able to hear them weeks or ...

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EMI Back on Terra Firma?

Source: All About Jazz
May 13, 2010

Terra Firma appears to have raised the funding it needs to prevent lender Citigroup from foreclosing on embattled music giant EMI Group, according to unconfirmed reports on Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal is claiming that Terra Firma chairman Guy Hands succeeded in persuading 75% of his fund's backers to inject a further 105 million ($156 million) so that EMI could meet banking covenants agreed to with Citigroup. However, Terra Firma is remaining tight-lipped, with a spokesman reiterating to Daily Variety ...

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Graphic Proof of the Death of the Album

Source: HypeBot
May 12, 2010

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Ask the Readers: Choice, a Paradox or Paradise?

Source: HypeBot
May 12, 2010

Kyle Bylin, Associate Editor-- (@kbylin)

There's an essay I've wanted to write for quite awhile now, tentatively titled: Paradox or Paradise: Music Choice in the Digital Age; it would explore the topic as to whether or not the shift in the music landscape from scarcity to abundance has resulted in a positive or negative experience when fans purchase music.

Todo this, I would compare and contrast two of the leading voices on this issue.

On one hand, there's ...

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Notes from the Net: Miles Davis' Blue Moment; Clark Terry Honored in KC; Plus News, Reviews, Interviews and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
May 12, 2010

Here's the latest compilation of assorted news briefs and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest:* Starting with some Miles Davis news, “We Want Miles," the exhibit about the trumpeter's life and work first staged last year in Paris, has now opened in Montreal. We Want Miles also is the name of a new ...

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The Marriage of Ticketmaster and Live Nation: Say Hello to the $400 Ticket?

Source: Michael Ricci
May 12, 2010

Monday was a historic day in the music business. Concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment posted its first quarter results as a newly merged company with ticketing giant Ticketmaster. Much of the post-earnings-call press has focused on the stats. The highlights: Concert attendance for the first quarter was down 3%, and the company's revenue from resale site TicketsNow has fallen sharply.

But listen carefully to the conference call discussion with Live Nation Entertainment Chief Executive Michael Rapino and there are hints ...

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An Indie That Believes in CDs

Source: Michael Ricci
May 11, 2010

The waters might be choppy for the music business right now, but the Concord Music Group is happy to ride those waves. In April, Concord, an independent label, announced two deals, one to distribute Paul McCartney's post-Beatles catalog and another to buy Rounder Records, the roots label from Boston whose “Raising Sand" won a Grammy for best album in 2009. Those two additions are the latest in a years-long period of growth for Concord, which is based in Beverly Hills. ...

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"Now in Stores" - 5/2/2010 to 5/8/2010

Source: Groove Notes
May 10, 2010

We recommend five jazz albums that were released over the past week and here are this weeks five, released between May 2nd and May 8th, 2010. 1. Together Again by Juan Pablo Torres (Timba, 5/4/2010) Recorded in New York, New York, Abdala Studio, Habana, Cuba and Turis Music Recording Studio, Miami, Florida. Personnel includes all stars like: J.P. Torres (trombone), Arturo Sandoval (trumpet, flugelhorn), Robin Eubanks, Steve Turre (trombone), John Di Martino, Chucho Valdes, and David Virelles (piano); Peter Smith ...

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