Music Industry News

Amid the Turmoil, EMI Launches a New Label

Source: HypeBot
March 17, 2010

EMI may be just days away from defaulting on its loan obligations to CitiGroup, but that didn't stop the music group from launching a new record label yesterday. Building on its success in the country genre (Capital Nashville was named label of the year at the recent Country Radio Seminar and 2009's #1 country imprint by Billboard), EMI Records Nashville will debut as a sister label with its own staffing.

The first artist on the new imprint is singer/songwriter Troy ...

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Interview: Zach Zalon on Hello Music's Opportunity Engine for D.I.Y. Musicians

Source: HypeBot
March 17, 2010

Hello Music recently grabbed headlines when it received$4 millionfrom KVG Partners. But what's unique about Hello is its business model. Created as an “opportunity engine" for d.i.y musicians, Hello takes no upfront fees.

A team of professionals at Hello connects artists with service providers like Topspin and Tunecore, new media like Slacker and opportunities like Pump Audio. Hello profits only if the artist makes money.In this exclusive interview,managing partner Zack Zalon explains why he and partner Brendon Cassidy created Hello ...

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40 Watts of Freedom: An Athens Legend

Source: JamBase
March 17, 2010

By: Jeff Tobias

Yes, it's true. History compresses (if not crushes) every passing moment by virtue of its eternal extrapolation. But that doesn't mean those moments didn't exist... or that they weren't special or that they can't continue to be. A few blocks away from the bucolic field where the Music Tapes marched the Athens Popfest '07 audience (kazoos in hand) across the street from the lawn of the massive frat house where legendary krautrock band Faust set off firecrackers ...

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Digital Growth Offsets CD Decline First Time in UK

Source: HypeBot
March 16, 2010

Growth in digital music sales in 2009 offset the continuing decline in CD sales for the first time according to UK collection society PRS For Music.

Digital revenues grew 73% (12.8m) to 30.4m in 2009 as platforms such as Spotify, MySpace Music, Amazon and iTunes expanded. That compared to an 8.7m drop in physical revenues through the year. Total revenues grew 2.6%.

“Last year was the first in which the growth in revenues from the legal digital market ...

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OTMG to Work with Stax Records on New Compilation

Source: On Target Media Group
March 16, 2010

On Target Media is pleased to announce that we will be handling the digital marketing for the upcoming Stax 50th Anniversary compilation record, Stax Number Ones. The new record is a compilation of 15 chart-topping hits by Stax' best-known artists and is scheduled for release March 30th via Stax/Concord Records.

Included are #1 hits by Booker T. & the MGs, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, The Dramatics and more. ...

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Jackson Estate Signs $200 Million Sony Deal

Source: All About Jazz
March 16, 2010

The estate of Michael Jackson has landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, according to a person familiar with the deal.

The record-breaking contract could be worth up to $250 million if certain conditions are met. One of the albums will be of never-before-released Jackson recordings that will come out in November, the person said.

The person spoke on condition ...

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EMI Establishes Nashville Arm

Source: All About Jazz
March 15, 2010

EMI Music is establishing a second Music City-based label, EMI Records Nashville.

First act signed to the new imprint is Arizona-bred singer-songwriter Troy Olsen, who has crafted hits for stars Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton. Executive team is to be announced, though Capitol Nashville promotion director Angela Lange has been named vp of promotion at the new arm. Execs will report to Capitol Nashville president/chief operation officer Mike Dungan. Dungan said in a statement, “Establishing EMI Records Nashville is part ...

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Miles from the Strip Visions of Upscale Living Dim

Source: All About Jazz
March 15, 2010

Reporting from Henderson, Nev.-- At the time, it probably sounded like a can't-miss pitch:

Sunset-colored palaces. Three golf courses. Boutiques selling hand- painted silk gowns. A Ritz-Carlton. And a lake! A 2-mile-long desert lake, with marinas, an ice rink and a floating concert stage. Few plans embodied the hubris of Nevada's go-go years like Lake Las Vegas, the wannabe Tuscan village launched two decades ago 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Over the years, Michael Jackson dodged paparazzi at ...

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