Music Industry News

The Artist as a Startup and Label as a Venture Fund

Source: HypeBot
July 23, 2009

Is A New Model Emerging?

During the panel that I was a part of at yesterday's New Music Seminar, we briefly floated the idea of the artist as a start-up company. Not only is there value in thinking of an artist's career (or any career for that matter) as a business and embracing an entrepreneurial spirit, but perhaps artist and record funding should become more start-up like as well.

Instead of the old label model where a large ...

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L.A. County Coroner's Staff Improperly Viewed Michael Jackson's Death Certificate

Source: Michael Ricci
July 22, 2009

Los Angeles County coroners officials said today that they have looked into security breaches involving the investigation of Michael Jacksons death, including hundreds of improper views of the pop stars death certificate.

Also the discovery of weaknesses in two other computer systems in which more sensitive records were stored. At least a half-dozen coroners staff members were among those who inappropriately accessed Jacksons death certificate, officials said today. Within two weeks of his death, the certificate had been viewed more ...

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Possible Criminal Aspects in Michael Jackson Memorial Security Probe

Source: Michael Ricci
July 22, 2009

Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich today told the City Council that his inquiry into the city's role in the Michael Jackson memorial may possibly have unearthed some “criminal aspects.”

“Our investigation has taken an unanticipated turn that raises both civil and criminal aspects,” Trutanich told the council.

He said only that his office's investigators continue to review the matter and interview witnesses. He declined to elaborate on the details of the investigation.

Trutanich launched an inquiry into the chain ...

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Manslaughter Probed in Michael Jackson Case

Source: Michael Ricci
July 22, 2009

Police look for evidence of manslaughter in Michael Jackson's death, attorney says. A search warrant executed today at the Houston offices of Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal doctor, indicates that authorities are investigating “the offense of manslaughter" in relation to the pop star's death.

The statement by attorney Edward Chernoff is the strongest indication yet that investigators are considering serious criminal charges against anyone connected with Jackson's sudden death June 25.

We can confirm that a search warrant was ...

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Jackson Browne, Republicans Settle Copyright Case

Source: Billboard Magazine
July 22, 2009

Jackson Browne is hopeful that the protection of music copyrights will be bolstered by the settlement of his lawsuit against U.S. Sen. John McCain and the Republican Party over unauthorized use of one of his songs in the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign. Last August Browne sued McCain, the Ohio Republican Party and the Republican National Committee for copyright infringement, false endorsement and violating his right of publicity after his 1977 hit “Running On Empty" was used without permission in a ...

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Kazaa Relaunches as "Future of Digital Music". It's Not.

Source: HypeBot
July 22, 2009

(UPDATED) The press release arrived with the bold headline “Kazaa Relaunched - The Future Of Digital Music". After a rumored $100 million settlement with rights holders Kazaa is coming back to life as a legal digital music service in the United States.

Owner Altnet hopes to use once powerful Kazaa file-sharing brand to launch a licensed market offering music and ringtones available via subscription. All four major record companies (Universal, Sony, Warner Music Group and EMI,) plus some independent ...

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Ingrooves Partners with Topspin for Custom Direct to Fan Marketing Solutions

Source: HypeBot
July 22, 2009

Digital distributor INgrooves can now offer Topspin's technology-driven direct-to-fan marketing, management and distribution platform to is artists and labels. This is the first enterprise marketing services deal with a digital distributor for Topspin and will provide another way for INgrooves's artists and labels to maximize sales.

The partnership expands the suite of services that INgrooves provides to its clients and makes Topspin available to a large stable of notable independent artists and labels. Topspins is designed to help artists ...

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Notes from the Net: Miles and Sonny Re-Released; Jazz Times to Publish Again; Plus News, Reviews, Interviews, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
July 22, 2009

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, as usual, with some Miles Davis-related news, it seems that Concord Music Group will be releasing Miles Davis & Sonny Rollins: The Classic Prestige Sessions, 1951-1956 on August 4. The two-CD set compiles everything Davis and Rollins ...

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