Features
MusicTank endeavours to maintain a comprehensive library of industry news. Some links may require subscription to be read in their entirety. MusicTank is not liable for the content of external links.
Mar 17, 2010
Time for Guy Hands To Face The Music At EMI — And Sell?
An anxious music industry is watching to see whether debt-laden EMI is about to “pass out” into the hands of its US bankers Citigroup. All the signs are that one of the great sagas of the credit crunch — private equity firm Terra Firma's £4.2 billion purchase of EMI, made at the height of the boom in 2007 — is heading for a climax. (...a good overview of EMI's recent history since Terra Firma bought it in 2007)
Mar 17, 2010
Students Embrace The Digital Bill
The Student Radio Association has pledged its backing for the Digital Economy Bill and has urged its members to write to their MPs in support of the Bill. The body wants stations to highlight the potential benefits that student radio will receive as a result of digital radio switchover. Ashley Tabor, Global Founder & Group CEO, Global Group, said: “Student radio not only provides a great service to its community of listeners, it is an absolute hotbed of future talent for our industry, both on and off air. It is one of the places where some of our best-loved DJs and most talented producers and technicians cut their teeth. Its future health is our future health, so as an industry it is absolutely vital that we create a broadcasting environment in which it can thrive.”
Mar 17, 2010
@SXSW: The Daily Digest: Mobile Emerges As A Major Music Platform
The discussion around mobile music no longer mentions ringtones, as both mainstream and indie acts see the advantages of mobile platforms for promotion and distribution. Devices have always been at the center of the digital music experience, most particularly the iPod. But with the dramatic evolution of today's smartphones, the iPod's hold on the portable music space is over, as indicated by a host of mobile-related news coming out of SXSW this week...
Mar 17, 2010
Net Piracy Puts 1.2m EU Jobs In Peril, Study Shows
Report finds that piracy cost the sector £10bn in lost revenues in 2008. Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI - "...We're approaching a tipping point where investment in our talent will dry up due to mass illegal downloading".
Mar 17, 2010
Digital Economy Bill: Online Piracy Law Unlikely To Face Major Scrutiny
In a move that will dismay privacy campaigners and ISPs, websites with pirated content could be blocked as Tories collaborate with government to rush bill into law before election.
Mar 17, 2010
Keeping The Internet Pirates At Bay
Piracy has plagued musicians for more than a decade – and now the games industry is under attack. So what can it learn from the record business?
Mar 16, 2010
Jedward Dropped After A Hit Single? Record Companies Should Try It More Often
It might sound harsh to dump John and Edward after a hit record. But why struggle on with acts when you know their future output will be decidedly rubbish?
Mar 16, 2010
Pirate Bay Blocking Row Silenced In Norway
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and a pro-copyright group have given up their fight to get telecoms outfit Telenor to block access to The Pirate Bay in Norway.
Mar 16, 2010
Spanish Judge Rules File-Sharing Not Illegal
A Spanish Judge's stance on online piracy - that it is not illegal if there is no profit motive.
Mar 16, 2010
@SXSW: The Expansive Reach Of Music Bloggers
Music bloggers are passionate, opinionated and devoted to their craft. And in terms of traffic and content, music blogs represent the long tail of music. Although the most visible blogs tend to congregate around the same handful of indie rock bands, music blogs cover all genres and reach far into music's history.
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