XM and Sirius Approve Merger

Source:
Digital Music News

“The near-unanimous green lights emerged from both camps, and predate critical regulatory decisions by both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the US Department of Justice. Most expect imminent action ahead, possibly by year-end, though approvals are hardly guaranteed.”

Canadian Music Chain Closes

Source:
ET Canada

“Music World, the last Canadian-owned national music store chain, is under bankruptcy protection and will close its stores, the latest victim of a rapidly changing music business.

But the move does not signal the end for the company, said Music World president Kai Voigt in a telephone interview with CanWest News Service.

There will be a change in direction, said Voigt, one of the new owners, indicating that there will be a shift toward more of an online presence. “That is a component.””

CRIA Private Copying Collective

Source: Micheal Geist

“Tuesday November 13, 2007
Readers of this blog will recall that CRIA broke from the Canadian Private Copying Collective earlier this fall by seeking leave to intervene in a federal court case where it will oppose the expansion of the private copying levy. CRIA identified seven objections to the Copyright Board’s iPod levy decision, but the federal court ruled that it didn’t want to hear those arguments. Instead, it granted CRIA leave to intervene on the condition that it limit its argument to the core issue before the court.

CRIA has just submitted its brief and it would appear that the judge’s ruling did not make much of an impression. Virtually all the issues CRIA raised in its initial request to intervene are back including claims that the private copying levy would violate Canada’s international trade obligations and that the private copying levy will kill the digital music market (CRIA argues that “no service can compete with something that is free”). It also argues that the Copyright Board was wrong to say that without the expansion of the levy it would “instantly make the conduct of millions of Canadians illegal, and even possibly criminal”, noting that making private copies could not be a criminal offense in Canada.”

Guitar Play Along CD of the Day

Radiohead Disputes Numbers

Source:
digital music news

“Earlier this week, comScore noted that 62 percent of fans paid nothing for the album, an option offered by the band. But those figures were not based on figures from the band, and Radiohead called the information “wholly inaccurate” in a statement issued Thursday. “The figures quoted by the company comScore Inc. are wholly inaccurate and in no way reflect definitive market intelligence or, indeed, the true success of the project,” the group said.”

Radiohead Fans, 62% Paid Nothing

Source:
digital music news

“Just 38 percent of Radiohead fans paid for the latest album, according to data recently supplied by comScore. The band allowed fans to name their price for the downloadable release, In Rainbows, a closely-watched experiment. While most fans grabbed the album for nothing, a significant percentage paid modest amounts. According to the data, 17 percent paid an average of $4 for the album, while 12 percent paid between $8 and $12.”

XM Continues To Bleed

“XM finished the quarter with 8.5 million subscribers, compared with 7.2 million at the same point last year. … But a 22 percent drop in sales through retail channels deepened the company’s loss. XM also lost money in the quarter because of merger-related costs and severance pay to its former chief executive, Hugh Panero. The company, which has never earned a profit, also struggled to keep customers. … XM added 315,000 net subscribers, compared with 286,000 in the third quarter last year, the first year-over-year customer growth in more than a year.”

Source: Washington Post

Zune Insider Free Music Friday Link

Friday Oct. 26, 2007 Zune Free Music Friday

Radiohead Rumours

The New York Times is reporting about Radiohead that they are “close to signing a series of deals to release its next album independently and leave the major record companies behind. The band is expected to market the album internationally through the British label XL Recordings, according to people briefed on the band’s plans.”

Source:
New York Times

More Tax On Legal Canadian Downloads

Source:
canada.com/finacialpost

“The tariffs, to be charged to iTunes and other companies that distribute music over the Internet, adds three cents to the cost of individual songs that now sell for about 99 cents, and 1.5 cents per track for downloaded albums.”

“For temporary music sales, such as songs that erase themselves after a pre-determined period, stores will pay 5.7% of the selling price, with a minimum of 54.8 cents per subscriber per month.”

I am not going to cancel my iMesh subscription any time soon but I do have Frostwire installed on my computer.

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