Digital Music News (digitalmusicnews.com)

Finally: iTunes Store Goes DRM-Free, 99-Cents Going Variable

January 5, 2009

Some rumors do come true. On Tuesday, Apple announced that its iTunes Store would soon sell DRM-free content from all four major labels, the end of a protracted standoff. That means greater content flexibil... Read More...

Soundscan: Album Sales Down 14 Percent in ’08

Paul Resnikoff

December 31, 2008

Album sales dropped a gaping 14 percent in 2008, according to figures shared by Nielsen Soundscan. Specifically, physical and digital albums collectively moved to 428.4 million units in the United States, fr... Read More...

2008: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Paul Resnikoff

December 29, 2008

Survived 2008 okay? The year proved difficult for an already-disrupted industry, though "accelerated transition" could be the best description of current forces at work. As in previous years, consumers continued their shift towards digital formats, and fre... Read More...

Yet Sony Music Brokers Project Playlist Accord

Alexandra Osorio

December 23, 2008

MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, and other networks are now blocking Project Playlist widgets, a response to major label pressure. But Sony Music Entertainment is striking a deal of its own, potentially the fi... Read More...

Any There There? RIAA Agreements Remain Flimsy, Unconfirmed

Paul Resnikoff

December 22, 2008

The RIAA is abandoning its strategy of suing individual file-swappers, and shifting towards ISP-level enforcement against infringers. That was trumpeted by major labels over the pre-Christmas weekend, but a ... Read More...

Another Week Survived; Music Mixed on Wall Street

Paul Resnikoff

December 21, 2008

Instead of jaw-dropped crashes and half-baked recoveries, Wall Street marched through a milder, pre-Christmas climate last week. Over the period, the broader Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) slipped just 51 points, or less than 0.6 percent, to land at 8,... Read More...

Major Labels Ending Lawsuits Against Individuals…. Now What?

Paul Resnikoff

December 19, 2008

Major labels are now discontinuing their multi-year, legal attack against individual file-swappers, according to information confirmed by the RIAA on Friday. The RIAA-coordinated campaign, first started in 2... Read More...

Breaking: MySpace Blocks Project Playlist; Takes Major Label Side

Paul Resnikoff

December 19, 2008

MySpace is now blocking access to Project Playlist, based on pressure from at least one major label group. According to sources close to the discussion, MySpace opted to take the action to preserve its newfo... Read More...

The New EMI.com: Where Will This All Go?

Paul Resnikoff

December 17, 2008

Where is EMI Music going with its newly-launched, EMI.com destination? The company entered with a rather straight-ahead destination on Wednesday morning, one that features a range of assets for roster artists - including videos, audio streams, pictures, bio... Read More...

U2 Dumping Live Nation Shares; Please Pay $19 Million

Alexandra Osorio

December 17, 2008

U2 is now offloading a massive amount of depressed Live Nation (LYV) shares, a move that will cost the concert giant approximately $19 million. According to SEC filings issued this morning, the total amount ... Read More...

Can’t Believe It? T-Pain Suddenly Topping File-Sharing Networks

Paul Resnikoff

December 17, 2008

The man who brought you "I'm Sprung," "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)" and "Bartender" is now enjoying an unexpected jump across P2P networks and radio stations. This time, the track is also a familiar favorite,... Read More...

Good Idea? New York Considers iTunes Plus Tax

Paul Resnikoff

December 17, 2008

In down times, governments are often tempted to increase taxes to mend growing deficits. But bigger taxes often lead to bigger problems. According to Chris Edwards, author of Downsizing the Federal Government (Cato Institute, 2005), a long series of Depres... Read More...

Here’s What Drives Sync Licensing Success — According to a Veteran Creator Fresh Off a Samsung Placement

Here’s How Apple Has Dominated Sync Licensing for Two Decades Running

The Methodology Behind Great Sync: A Breakdown for Brands, Content Creators and Supervisors

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Meet the Sync Superstar Behind the Ad for Nissan’s 2023 Z

Robyn Cage Discusses Sync Licensing Tips for Beginners on Songtradr

Meet the Artist Who Is Literally Saving His Fans' Lives — Our Latest Podcast

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How to Game the Billboard Charts (And Why You Shouldn’t)

Stop Chasing Playlists and Start Building a Music Career — Our Latest Podcast

‘Bone Conduction’ Headphones Don’t Go Over Your Ears — But Still Transmit Sound to Your Inner Cochlea

Now That the Music Modernization Act Has Passed, Who’s Gonna Run the Damn Thing?

Investing In Music Catalogs? It Ain’t All Daisies & Butterflies — Our Latest Podcast

Finally: iTunes Store Goes DRM-Free, 99-Cents Going Variable

Soundscan: Album Sales Down 14 Percent in ’08

2008: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Yet Sony Music Brokers Project Playlist Accord

Any There There? RIAA Agreements Remain Flimsy, Unconfirmed

Another Week Survived; Music Mixed on Wall Street

Major Labels Ending Lawsuits Against Individuals…. Now What?

Breaking: MySpace Blocks Project Playlist; Takes Major Label Side

The New EMI.com: Where Will This All Go?

U2 Dumping Live Nation Shares; Please Pay $19 Million

Can’t Believe It? T-Pain Suddenly Topping File-Sharing Networks

Good Idea? New York Considers iTunes Plus Tax