Archive for the 'Music Business' Category

Investigation Launches For Live Nation/Ticketmaster Merger : MusicRow

• Monday, March 16th, 2009

The Justice Department has begun an antitrust investigation into the proposed Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger. Many lawmakers, fans and artists believe that combining the two huge companies would result in unfair competition, giving one powerhouse too much control over the live entertainment industry.

Full Article:
Investigation Launches For Live Nation/Ticketmaster Merger : MusicRow

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Virgin Stores Shuttering Completely : MusicRow

• Monday, March 16th, 2009

Virgin Entertainment Group North America (VEGNA), owner of the Virgin Megastores as well as three other retail outlets, is expected to close this summer. The company has been working on shuttering its Virgin Megastores in New York City and San Francisco for months. Other retail spaces in Orlando, Denver and Los Angeles will follow soon, with the liquidation process to be complete by summer. VEGNA was acquired by real estate companies the Related Cos. and Vornado in August 2007.

Original Article:
Virgin Stores Shuttering Completely : MusicRow

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Clear Channel Reports $5 Billion Loss : MusicRow

• Monday, March 16th, 2009

CC Media Holdings has reported a $5 billion fourth quarter loss due to a major change in the value of its assets such as radio licenses and other permits. CC Media Holdings is the vehicle used by Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital to privatize Clear Channel Communications last year in what was reportedly a $17.9 billion transaction. The $5 billion loss on revenues of $1.6 billion compares with a fourth quarter profit of $321 million on revenue of $1.9 billion in same period a year earlier. CC Media reports its radio revenue fell 13% in the fourth quarter and revenue from its Outdoor Advertising business dropped 16%.

Full Article:
Clear Channel Reports $5 Billion Loss : MusicRow

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Bluegrass fans put spin on CD-buying habits | BluegrassJournal.com

• Monday, March 16th, 2009

When’s the last time you heard someone say they walked up to Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift or Eminem at a concert and bought a new CD directly from the artist? And, oh yeah, can you believe this, it was autographed right on the spot?

Believe that one and let me unload some shares of GM stocks on you today — for $500 a pop.

So lies a big difference in the rock, pop and Top 40 Country world compared to the stars of bluegrass. Indeed, you can walk right up to Dr. Ralph Stanley’s CD table at a festival, buy his latest release and have him sign it. Or, if you just happen to already have a copy that you didn’t buy at Doctor Ralph’s table full of goodies, no matter — the iconic Ralph Stanley will still oblige you with an autograph.

In a February online survey undertaken by the International Bluegrass Music Association, many respondents — 31 percent –said they most often purchase their recordings that way, directly from the artist or record label. That was topped only by the 42 percent of respondents who said the bought their CDs online from Web sites. Just over 13 percent buy their CDs in the mass retail market while another 10.5 percent get their recorded music products via direct mail.

Full Article:
Bluegrass fans put spin on CD-buying habits | BluegrassJournal.com

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Bluegrass Hotel Turning Sour | The Bluegrass Blog

• Monday, March 16th, 2009

A cascading series of booked acts for the March 20 concert, scheduled to both kick off a year-long tribute to The Bluegrass Hotel, and raise funds for the American Cancer Society, have announced that they will not appear on the show. Sam Bush was the first to drop, followed almost immediately by John Cowan and Tony Rice.

These artists claim that necessary assurances and contract requirements for them to take part in the concert were never received, while the event promoter insists that these performers have reneged on prior agreements. The tone has turned ugly, with the following headline posted on the official Bluegrass Hotel website: Bluegrass Stars Jilt Major Charity.

Full Article:
The Bluegrass Blog: Bluegrass Hotel Turning Sour

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The Bluegrass Blog: Performance Rights Act hearing 3/10

• Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

The Judiciary Committee of the US House Of Representatives will take up the Performance Rights Act today (3/10) with a hearing at 10:00 a.m.

This legislation (H.R.848) seeks to require broadcast radio (terrestrial transmitter-based) to pay royalties to artists and performers each time a song is played. These royalties are currently paid to copyright holders (songwriters) by statute, and this proposed legislation would extend payments to include the named artist and studio musicians as well.

Proponents point out that these performance royalties are currently paid for satellite and internet radio, and that many other nations require them to be paid for broadcast radio as well. The Recording Industry Artist Association (RIAA) and record labels see it as a possible revenue stream to help offset declining income from CD sales, as do session players and artists.

Radio industry organizations argue that this doubling of payments would be an undue burden on their operating expenses, and that the airplay serves as important free publicity for the artists and labels.

Though bluegrass and traditional music formats are not likely to be discussed in the hearing, the legislation is being followed closely by industry folks in our community, with the same battle lines as described above.

The hearing begins at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) and can be seen via online streaming video.

Witnesses expected to testify include:

* Billy Corgan – Vocalist and Lead Guitarist, The Smashing Pumpkins
* Mitch Bainwol – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Recording Industry Artist Association
* Paul Almeida – President, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
* W. Lawrence Patrick – President, Patrick Communications
* Stan Liebowitz, Ph.D. – Ashbel Smith Distinguished Professor of Managerial Economics, University of Texas at Dallas
* Steve Newberry – Chairman of the Radio Board, National Association of Broadcasters

via:
The Bluegrass Blog: bluegrass music news

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CMT News: NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Death of CD Confirmed

• Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

Friends and family announced the death of Compact Disc — familiarly known as “CD” — this week. Its remains were said to be scattered over a few dozen remaining retail stores that continued to stock CDs. It is survived by millions of MP3s and thousands of vinyl LP records, which were themselves long thought to be missing and presumed dead.

Compact Disc was born in 1982 in Germany, after some years of gestation in the Netherlands. It first appeared in retail form in the form of Billy Joel’s 52nd Street on Oct. 1, 1982.

CD led a long, expensive and uproarious, if sometimes quarrelsome, life. It was never happier than when accidentally dropped on a hardwood or tile floor. It was then eager to make a disheartening noise upon striking the floor and springing open, scattering all its many pieces across the floor.

The cause of death of Compact Disc was said to be irrelevance. Symptoms of that lingering malady had become more noticeable of late. No memorial services are planned at this time.

Entire Article:
CMT : News : NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Death of CD Confirmed

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Celebrating 50 Years Of Del McCoury

• Thursday, March 5th, 2009

The following is from The Bluegrass Blog.  We transferred a few of the recordings here at Creative Caffeine from analog tape into pro tools last year… looking forward to hearing the final product.

Rejoice all you Del-heads McCoury Music is preparing to release a 5 disc, definitive collection of the music of Del McCoury on May 12.

Celebrating 50 Years Of Del McCoury will include 50 tracks marking Del’s five decades in bluegrass, plus a 12 page color booklet.

All of the music was recorded with The Del McCoury Band, the bulk of it in a recent set of marathon sessions. These involved recutting better than 30 songs from the first 40 years of Del’s long career, coupled with 18 top tracks from his recent recordings.

The box set will retail for $49.95, or as Chris Harris with McCoury Music put it, “50 years/50 songs/50 dollars.” This is one every McCoury fan will want to own, and any serious collector of bluegrass music should have in their library.

Original Article:
The Bluegrass Blog » Celebrating 50 Years Of Del McCoury: bluegrass music news

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Guns N’ Roses album to debut on MySpace

• Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Guns N’ Roses fans who have waited 17 years to hear the rock band’s new album are mere hours from having their patience rewarded with a free Web debut before it goes on sale next week.

Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy will make its debut on the band’s MySpace page starting Thursday, according to a Reuters report Wednesday. Fans will be able to stream the album for free before it goes on sale Sunday in an exclusive deal with Best Buy. Listeners, however, will not be able to download tracks from the site.

Full Article:
Guns N’ Roses album to debut on MySpace | Digital Media – CNET News

MySpace Link:
www.myspace.com/gunsnroses

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Great Singers In the Studio and Behind the Scenes : Photos

• Thursday, November 20th, 2008

John Lennon shows off new automated console.  Sean sits by his side.

John Lennon shows off new automated console. Sean sits by his side.

John Lennon (with son Sean) shows off the new automated mixing board at New York’s Hit-Factory, 1980. “It looks like he’s turning Sean on to the world of music,” says photographer Bob Gruen.

Full Article:

Great Singers In the Studio and Behind the Scenes : Photos : Rolling Stone

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