music industry – News Stories About music industry - Page 11

As Digital Gains,
Album Sales
Plunge 11%

Jul 3, 2008 6:35 AM CDT

As Digital Gains, Album Sales Plunge 11%

Music biz turmoil as CDs plummet

(Newser) - CDs continue to go the way of the 8-track, losing further ground to digital music. Another big drop in CD sales is being driven by the closure of Virgin stores and reduced shelf space at outlets like Target. CD sales are off 16% over the last 12 months and total...

BBC Airs Lost Beatles Interview

Jul 1, 2008 11:00 AM CDT

BBC Airs Lost Beatles Interview

Lennon and McCartney talk about first meeting

(Newser) - BBC Radio today aired a long lost Beatles interview featuring John Lennon and Paul McCartney talking about the day they met and their songwriting partnership. The precious film sat forgotten for 44 years in a garage in south London until film fan Richard Jeffs realized a piece of pop history...

Concert Sales
Slump as Gas
Prices Climb

Jun 29, 2008 11:27 AM CDT

Concert Sales Slump as Gas Prices Climb

Pump prices on top of tickets breaking the bank

(Newser) - Soaring gas prices are turning down the volume on ticket sales for this year’s summer tours, Rolling Stone reports. Major festivals like Bonnaroo and Coachella didn’t sell out—a rare occurrence—while top acts like George Michael, Maroon 5, and Stevie Wonder are facing difficulty finding fans. That...

FBI Drops in on GN'R Leaker

Jun 26, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

FBI Drops in on GN'R Leaker

Feds looking into blogger's posting of material from long-awaited Chinese Democracy

(Newser) - When Kevin Skwerl leaked nine new tracks from long-awaited Guns N’ Roses album Chinese Democracy last week, he expected some fallout. A visit from two “Mulder and Scully” types courtesy of the FBI was not quite what he had in mind, reports Rolling Stone. “It‘s...

Dion's AC/DC Tribute
'Worst Cover Ever'

Jun 23, 2008 11:59 AM CDT

Dion's AC/DC Tribute 'Worst Cover Ever'

Crooner's version of You Shook Me All Night Long called 'vile'

(Newser) - Celine Dion's rendition of AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long has been voted the worst cover ever, according to Total Guitar magazine. The UK mag called the duet Dion performed with Anastacia in Las Vegas 6 years ago an "offense" against music. "The No. 1 worst cover...

Summer of Jonas Bros. Looms

Jun 17, 2008 10:30 AM CDT

Summer of Jonas Bros. Looms

Squeaky-clean trio set for Miley-sized media onslaught

(Newser) - Brace yourselves: Disney is prepping a summer media blitz for the squeaky-clean, tween-rockin' Jonas Brothers that'll put Hannah Montana to shame. The former Christian rock band made up of three real-life siblings is starring in two movies, releasing an album, and touring Europe and the US—before getting their own...

Live Nation Divided Over Mega Deals

Jun 12, 2008 1:39 PM CDT

Live Nation Divided Over Mega Deals

Signers of Madonna, Jay-Z squabble over bold experiment

(Newser) - Two top execs at music giant Live Nation are squabbling over how quickly to move forward with the enormous new deals they've been striking with artists in an attempt to reshape the failing business, the Wall Street Journal reports. The CEO wants to wait and see how current contracts—which...

Lil Wayne Gives
Milk for Free,
Still Sells Cow

Jun 11, 2008 4:10 PM CDT

Lil Wayne Gives Milk for Free, Still Sells Cow

The rapper turned to the Internet to change the game

(Newser) - It made record execs cringe, but Lil Wayne's three-year mixtape giveaway sealed his megastar status, reports Rolling Stone. After his last album underperformed, Wayne built an underground following with four free double-albums released on the Internet. The risky move launched Wayne's new single "Lollipop" to Number One on Billboard's...

Runner-Up
'Idol' Snags
Music Deal

Jun 11, 2008 11:39 AM CDT

Runner-Up 'Idol' Snags Music Deal

David Archuleta inks deal with Jive

(Newser) - “American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta has inked a deal with “Idol” creator Simon Fuller’s 19 Recordings/Jive Records, the AP reports. The 17-year-old lost to David Cook, 25, a former Missouri bartender, in an upset in last month's finale. Cook signed with the same label, MTV reports; the...

Reznor Schools
Music Industry

OPINION

Jun 10, 2008 8:00 PM CDT

Reznor Schools Music Industry

Digital giveaway translates into hard cash for Nine Inch Nails frontman

(Newser) - The music industry could learn a few things from Trent Reznor, whose decision to go independent and give away music digitally might earn him more money than sticking with a label—not to mention creative freedom, Jackson West writes on Valleywag. Labels are now starting to realize they need to...

Wal-Mart Looks for Better Return on CDs

Jun 9, 2008 11:49 AM CDT

Wal-Mart Looks for Better Return on CDs

Uber-retailer plans to trim selection of artists, titles

(Newser) - As the country's leading brick-and-mortar CD seller, Wal-Mart occupies a special place in the music industry, earning perks like exclusive releases of CDs by bands like Journey and, soon, AC/DC. But with sales of physical CDs in freefall, even Wal-Mart is considering cutting the number of titles and artists its...

Internet Killed the Video Star That Killed the Radio Star

ANALYSIS

Jun 7, 2008 9:44 AM CDT

Internet Killed the Video Star That Killed the Radio Star

One-time trendsetter can't connect with wired youth

(Newser) - The MTV generation is pushing middle age, and its favored video-delivery system is falling victim to YouTube, the Independent reports. Younger audiences–those key 16- to 24-year-olds–turn to the Internet for the hottest new music, and MTV's attempts to reconnect have failed. They include stabs at social networking and...

Jay-Z, Kanye: Kings of the Road

Jun 2, 2008 4:35 PM CDT

Jay-Z, Kanye: Kings of the Road

Traveling rap shows cashing in like never before

(Newser) - It took "live bands, big sound, pyrotechnics and showmanship," not to speak of an assist from an R&B diva, but Jay-Z and Kanye West have brought hip-hop into the big leagues in the touring business. The Jay-Z tour that ended last month grossed more than $23 million,...

Vinyl Back for Another Spin

Jun 2, 2008 12:25 PM CDT

Vinyl Back for Another Spin

Seemingly obsolete, format is seeing increasing—even 'unbelievable'—sales

(Newser) - It might seem unlikely in an age where the CD’s obituary has already been written, but vinyl records are making a comeback as younger fans fall for the big artwork and warm analog sounds, the Boston Globe reports. Music stores report big yearly sales increases, and big-box stores like...

Singer's Son
Runs Over Daughter

May 22, 2008 10:16 AM CDT

Singer's Son Runs Over Daughter

Christian Grammy-winner's youngest killed in car accident in family driveway

(Newser) - The youngest daughter of Grammy-winning Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed yesterday when one of her older brothers ran over the tyke in the family driveway, the AP reports. Several family members witnessed the accident that claimed the life of 5-year-old Maria Sue, who died later at...

Blu-Ray
Never Sleeps

May 7, 2008 11:52 AM CDT

Blu-Ray Never Sleeps

Young goes digital with complete archive, new material on interactive discs

(Newser) - Fans of Neil Young will soon be able to buy his entire music archive on Blu-ray discs, the AP reports. The first 10-disc set, out this fall, will cover the prolific rocker’s career from 1963 to 1972 and will include some previously unreleased songs, videos, and handwritten manuscripts. Buyers...

Nine Inch Nails
Gives Away
New Album

May 5, 2008 3:13 PM CDT

Nine Inch Nails Gives Away New Album

Says frontman Trent Reznor, 'This one's on me'

(Newser) - Nine Inch Nails released its new album free of charge today, Billboard reports. In premiering The Slip online, frontman Trent Reznor wrote, “Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years—this one’s on me.” The 10-track album will see CD and vinyl release in...

Spitzer Hooker
Pitches Music Labels

Apr 28, 2008 10:05 AM CDT

Spitzer Hooker Pitches Music Labels

No deal yet as Ashley Dupré awaits possible charges from federal investigation

(Newser) - The music manager who orchestrated Mariah Carey's comeback is shopping Eliot Spitzer’s 22-year-old call girl, Ashley Alexandra Dupré, to top music labels, the New York Daily News reports.

Jacko Jacked to Cut
Jackpot Album

Apr 25, 2008 11:10 AM CDT

Jacko Jacked to Cut Jackpot Album

King of Pop knows his financial future relies on a chart-topper

(Newser) - Michael Jackson is depending on his next album to stave off encroaching financial ruin. That’s why, 2 days ago, he banned his kids from his Las Vegas studio, swore off women (did he ever like them?) and recruited music masterminds RedOne and Akon to produce a money machine, the...

Starbucks Quits the Music Biz

Apr 25, 2008 8:17 AM CDT

Starbucks Quits the Music Biz

Coffee giant sheds record label as part of shakeup

(Newser) - Starbucks is handing control of its record label to Concord Music Group barely a year after it got into the music business, Variety reports. The move is part of a shakeup as the coffee chain refocuses on its core business to jolt itself out of a slump. Starbucks' label Hear...