Music Business Times Newshttp://app.feed.informer.com/digest3/L7VOBJWZXG.html Respective post owners and feed distributors http://feed.informer.com/ The world's biggest distributor of links to copyright infringing material is to be bought by a software entrepreneur and turned into a legitimate business, the site has announced. The Pirate Bay has agreed to be acquired for £4.8 million. Swedish company Global Gaming Factory (GGF) has agreed to buy the site, which has been at the centre of political, legal and cultural storms all its life. It was the biggest repository of links to pirated content, though it hosted none itself. Its founders were found guilty earlier this year of facilitating copyright infringement in Sweden. http://www.out-law.com/page-10139 Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.out-law.com/page-10139? Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:59 GMT Broadcast Music Inc., which collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers, has gradually shifted the bulk of its jobs to Music Row in Nashville from West 57th Street in Manhattan, said Robbin Ahrold, a spokesman for BMI. It now has about 140 jobs in the city, down from a peak of about 500, and plans to move about 110 of them into two floors of 7 World Trade Center in the spring. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/music-rights-group-is-moving-jobs-out-of-new-york/ Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/music-rights-group-is-moving-jobs-out-of-new-york/? Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:55 GMT Thomas publicly refused to pay the sizable damages, as each of the 24 copyright infringements carries a price of approximately $80,000. In a separate suit, lead lawyer Kiwi Camara is going after the RIAA for allegedly violating anti-racketeering laws by intimidating defendants into accepting settlements, rather than face legal costs of a lengthy court process. The RIAA allegedly offered to settle the first case for $25,000, although it is unclear... http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/07/02/riaa.defendant.to.appeal/ Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/07/02/riaa.defendant.to.appeal/? Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:51 GMT Jackson's solo album sales in the United States skyrocketed from 10,000 copies in the week before his death to 422,000 in the week ended June 28, according to Nielsen SoundScan. During the same period, U.S. track downloads surged from about 48,000 copies to 2.6 million. The week... http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/michael-jackson-music-sales-surge-could-1003990445.story Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/michael-jackson-music-sales-surge-could-1003990445.story? Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:49 GMT Microsoft, Yahoo and RealNetworks were hit this week with a copyright infringement suit filed on behalf of the composers of 950 songs offered by the companies through on-demand streaming or downloads that last only for the duration of a subscription. While the amount of damages available under the law if the composers win is very large — as much as $150,000 per violation deemed to be 'willful' — a more likely outcome is a settlement for less than the penny-per-play right recently established for streaming royalties... http://blogs.ft.com/techblog/2009/07/music-copyright-holders-sue-microsoft-yahoo/ Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://blogs.ft.com/techblog/2009/07/music-copyright-holders-sue-microsoft-yahoo/? Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:47 GMT With its independent distribution subsidiary RED, Sony Music currently provides award winning sales and marketing services to independent labels and artists. IODA now brings its proven digital distribution platform for the independent sector into the Sony Music network. With distinct areas of expertise and market focus, RED and IODA will build on their complementary technologies and increase the scope of sales and promotional opportunities that each currently offers its existing and growing customer base worldwide. Both companies will also leverage the global marketing and financial strength of Sony Music to continue expanding their businesses and providing best in class service. http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=4017269&access=EH Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=4017269&access=EH? Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:15 GMT AEG can still generate revenue from its audio and video footage of the rehearsals, which it owns under its contract with Jackson. 'We own the intellectual property,' AEG's CEO says. 'It is our responsibility and fiduciary duty to the estate to monetize as much of these assets as we can under the original contract, because the majority of the profit would go to the estate.' http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i04299584a9f4430cf5f4c302d16510d9 Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i04299584a9f4430cf5f4c302d16510d9? Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:10 GMT His body will be plastinated and placed next to Bubbles, his late pet monkey who was plastinated a number of years ago and is exhibited at The Body Worlds + Mirror Of Time exhibition at the O2 Centre in London (where Jackson was booked for a 50-date concert series). 'One of his final requests to be reunited with Bubbles... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1195750/Michael-Jackson-set-plastinated-missing-deadline-cryogenic-freezing.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1195750/Michael-Jackson-set-plastinated-missing-deadline-cryogenic-freezing.html? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:59 GMT The former nanny of Michael Jackson's kids painted a picture of the faded singer as a delusional nomad hopelessly addicted to prescription drugs. 'I had to pump his stomach many times. He always mixed so much of it,' Grace Rwaramba, 42, said. 'There was one period that it was so bad that I... http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/michael_jackson/2009/06/27/2009-06-27_coroner_releases_michael_jacksons_body_shattered_family_gathers_to_plan_king_of_.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/michael_jackson/2009/06/27/2009-06-27_coroner_releases_michael_jacksons_body_shattered_family_gathers_to_plan_king_of_.html? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:11 GMT It was clear that he was in no condition to do a single concert, let alone 50. He could no longer sing, for a start. On some days he could barely talk. He could no longer dance. Disaster was looming in London and, in the opinion of his closest confidantes, he was feeling suicidal.To understand why a singer of Jackson... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196009/Im-better-dead-Im-How-Michael-Jackson-predicted-death-months-ago.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196009/Im-better-dead-Im-How-Michael-Jackson-predicted-death-months-ago.html? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:03 GMT Michael Jackson's stake in ATV/Sony which owns the copyrights to 251 Beatles songs is facing scrutiny. While his death is still shrouded in mystery, focus is also turning to the star's complicated estate, finances and mounting debts. One of the more lucrative and shrewd investments he made was in ATV Music in 1985... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1195744/Question-mark-Jacksons-stake-500m-company-owns-Beatles-songs.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1195744/Question-mark-Jacksons-stake-500m-company-owns-Beatles-songs.html? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:42 GMT Already there is an all-too familiar rumor along the internet that Jackson employed a look-alike to double for him as he was to embark on his world tour, eerily similar to the 1966 urban legend that Paul McCartney died and was replaced by a body double. The legend goes on to speculate that many clues about the switch... http://www.examiner.com/x-14743-San-Antonio-Local-Music-Examiner~y2009m6d27-Michael-Jackson-the-latest-conspiracy-theory Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.examiner.com/x-14743-San-Antonio-Local-Music-Examiner~y2009m6d27-Michael-Jackson-the-latest-conspiracy-theory? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:39 GMT The Wall Street Journal reported that Jackson was earning $19 million a year at the time of his death, of which $7 million came from Sony/ATV. Yet Jackson was notorious for burning through cash, and in 2008 was in danger of losing his Neverland ranch in California... http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25697771-5012748,00.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25697771-5012748,00.html? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:37 GMT During his life, Jackson sold hundreds of millions of records, and his musical legacy should easily have led him to amass one of the greatest fortunes in show-business history. But instead, a history of bad management, excessive personal spending, and big legal bills left him, at his death, facing continual rumors... http://www.newsweek.com/id/204011?from=rss Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.newsweek.com/id/204011?from=rss? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:33 GMT It’s a major release, and a big deal for the company. When most people think of RealNetworks, they think of media delivery software, multimedia formats, music, and gaming services (and also its recent dispute with Hollywood studios over digital rights management with its RealDVD product)—not necessarily mobile devices... http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/06/24/realnetworks-rolls-out-novel-media-player-moves-deeper-into-mobile-and-social-space/ Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2009/06/24/realnetworks-rolls-out-novel-media-player-moves-deeper-into-mobile-and-social-space/? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:30 GMT There are major differences between the big music download shops, particularly when it comes to selection. That was the findings of chip.de, a Munich-based technology portal. Because it is difficult to determine how many songs in total are offered by any given shop, the testers selected 50 representative artists... http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/275131,big-differences-between-online-music-stores.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/275131,big-differences-between-online-music-stores.html? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:28 GMT The organisers of Michael Jackson's 50 comeback tour dates in London remained guarded on Saturday about refunds for ticket holders following the singer's death. Jackson fans from around the world had rushed to snap up tickets for the 'This Is It' performances at London's O2 Arena which were due to start on July 13. http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/jun/28/aap-jackson-concert-promoters-coy-on-refunds/ Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/jun/28/aap-jackson-concert-promoters-coy-on-refunds/? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:27 GMT Family members told TMZ that Jackson had received his daily shot of Demerol at 11.30am, but the dosage was 'too much'. As thousands of shocked fans gathered outside the UCLA hospital, detectives from the LAPD's Robbery Homicide division conducted an initial search of his house at the behest of city police chief... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6585015.ece Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6585015.ece? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:02 GMT A secret library of over a hundred songs recorded by Michael Jackson could be released following his death. One of the singer's biographers, Ian Halperin, claimed that the unheard songs had been made for his children. Mr Halperin, author of Unmasked, The Michael Jackson Story, said before his death:He wants to... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6584011.ece Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6584011.ece? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:47 GMT The source said investigators conducting the autopsy were surprised at how healthy Jackson was. While he wasn't necessarily normal, he appeared to be stronger than they expected. Investigators were surprised to see significant scarring on his face, this being the first time they had seen Jackson without makeup... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529226,00.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529226,00.html? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:45 GMT The finances of Michael Jackson, the pop icon who died this week at age 50, remain largely a mystery after a riches-to-rags story of one of the leading figures in the music world. The music legend may have been a billionaire at the time of his death Thursday but his finances saw a roller-coaster ride that left him... http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Jackson+riches+rags+story+still+mystery/1736661/story.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Jackson+riches+rags+story+still+mystery/1736661/story.html? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:13 GMT The Copyright Royalty Board has indicated that satellite radio will pay higher royalties, which jumped from 6% to 6.5% last year and will grow over time to 8% in 2012. There’s just one problem: the so-called 'U.S. Music Royalty Fee' of $1.98 per month for primary subscriptions or $0.97 a month for... http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10002363/sirius-xm-price-hike-using-royalties-as-income-boost-excuse/ Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10002363/sirius-xm-price-hike-using-royalties-as-income-boost-excuse/? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:08 GMT As news spread about Michael Jackson's death on Thursday, fans and curiosity seekers inundated the Internet for information, slowing several major news sites to a crawl, according to website performance measurement firm Keynote Systems. The firm said that during the early evening hours, sites including ABC, CBS, AOL... http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2009/06/26/death-michael-jackson-spikes-news-traffic%2C-music-sales Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2009/06/26/death-michael-jackson-spikes-news-traffic%2C-music-sales? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:04 GMT Aussie pop icons Men At Work face an anxious wait to find out if they will be stripped of thousands of dollars in royalties from their 1980s smash hit Down Under. The band has been accused of stealing the song's famous flute riff from the children's tune Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree, penned more than 75 years... http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/men-at-work-accused-of-music-riff-ripoff-20090626-czpf.html Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/men-at-work-accused-of-music-riff-ripoff-20090626-czpf.html? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:58 GMT Michael Jackson insisted that his concert promoter's payroll include his personal physician, a financially troubled cardiologist who was with the entertainer when he collapsed. Dr. Conrad Murray was hired by AEG Live to accompany the pop star to London for his comeback series of concerts, said AEG Live President... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson Delicious/mbtimes/feed http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson? Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:42 GMT