A federal judge slashed infringement fines for RIAA defendant Joel Tenenbaum, the latest challenge to statutory infringement rates.
Separately, RIAA chief Mitch Bainwol was paid more than $2 million in 2008, just one of several expensive compensation packages at the agency.
MySpace Music is now rumored to be considering a plan that would include paid streams, instead of the ad-supported free system of today.
Album sales slipped 11 percent during the first-half of this year in the US, according to stats from Nielsen Soundscan.
From last week...
The live concert sector continued to bleed. Lilith cancelled ten dates, and the American Idol roadshow chopped a similar number. That has companies innovating, and GigMaven tapped the Next Big Sound API to offer venues better artist stats.
Prince declared the internet "officially over," though onlookers questioned whether the clueless statement was actually a publicity stunt.
More speculation surrounded MySpace Music. One rumor suggests that a subscription service - and even pay-only streams - are part of the future strategy.
A number of deals were announced, including Rhapsody+Rightsflow, Spider+Hello, EMI+Apple Corps., and Sonicbids+Musician's Friend.
Sirius XM Radio posted a subscriber tally of 19.5 million, another pleasant surprise from the company.
British ISPs launched a challenge to the Digital Economy Act.
BigChampagne's Ultimate Chart (a/o February 10th):
1. “What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger),” Kelly Clarkson
2. “Set Fire to the Rain,” Adele
3. “Turn Me On,” David Guetta
4. “Rack City,” TYGA
5. “Good Feeling,” Flo Rida
6. “Smooth Criminal (Glee Cast Version),” Glee Cast
7. “Young, Wild & Free,” Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa
8. “Domino ,” Jessie J
9. “Sexy and I Know It,” LMFAO
10. “Ass Back Home ,” Gym Class Heroes
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