Faxon’s New Plan: Can It Save EMI?
Roger Faxon is rumored to be drafting a fresh plan to save EMI. But will this have an impact, or merely shuffle the deck chairs once again?
Keep It Moving: Eminem On to the Next Chart-Topper…
Who says the major label machine is dead? When it comes to the top-grossing, blockbuster artists, over-the-top marketing is quite alright, thank you very much. And over at Interscope, the action on Eminem is fierce: just moments after crossing one million units on Recovery, a second track is already over-performing.
Tommy Boy: “80 Percent of All Records Released are Just Noise — Hobbyists”
Are most musicians today merely hobbyists? Yes, according to Thomas “Tommy Boy” Silverman, who poked another hole in digital utopianism over the weekend. “80 percent of all records released are just noise — hobbyists,” Silverman told Wired. “Some companies like Tunecore are betting on the Long Tail because they get the same $10 whether you sell one copy or 10,000.”
Exclusive: RIAA’s Mitch Bainwol Making $2 Million Plus Annually…
The RIAA can hardly be categorized as a glowing success story, yet its CEO now earns more than $2 million in annual compensation. According to year-2008 federal tax filings shared over the weekend with Digital Music News, RIAA chief Mitch Bainwol raked an impressive $1.91 million in annual pay, with “other compensation” from the RIAA and “related organizations” offering another [...]
Trouble Ahead, Trouble Behind: MySpace Faces a Difficult Google Divorce…
MySpace Music has always been a mandatory landing spot for bands. But its importance is getting severely eroded by growing audience problems at MySpace proper, a situation that only seems to be worsening.
In Times of Trouble, Can Targeted Touring Come to the Rescue?
Live Nation is slashing fees to fill shows this summer. And outside of the crowd-packing elite, even bigger acts are suffering from under-attended dates. Elsewhere, popular artists like Imogen Heap are struggling to make the economics work on the road.
ASCAP’s Image Problem…
Is ASCAP good for the music business, or a prime example of the divisiveness that has been so crippling in the digital era?
RootMusic: A Good Idea Keeps Getting Better…
As MySpace Music continues to recede, bands are smartly shifting the emphasis towards Facebook. But MySpace was built on music, and it actively courts and promotes artists. Facebook does not, a situation that spells opportunity for startups and established companies alike.
HMV: The Zombie Record Store…
Tower exited the stage years ago, Virgin Megastores has vacated a large number of famous locations, and others like Borders have recoiled from music. The reasons are fairly obvious, though brick-and-mortar survivors are learning the art of physical diversification.