Kings of A&R

Monterey Peninsula Artists and Little Big Man will merge into one company called Paradigm Talent Agency.

Universal Music has purchased Sanctuary Music Group for £44.5 million ($90.7 million)

Universal Music puts Zomba on the block potentially worth in excess of $150 million. Sources expect initial bids will start coming in by Labor Day with a deal hoped to be in place by Thanksgiving. (NY POST)

Check out the new track Rise Today from former Creed members Alter Bridge.

Prince has been known for his demanding requests, but this time, he demanded his biggest yet — a house. It looks like negotiations to have a luxury five-bedroom home built for him within the grounds of London’s O2 Arena, formerly the Millennium Dome. It actually looks like someone is going to foot the bill.

During his London stay, he has reportedly demanded an oxygen bar - which enables participants to inhale a higher than normal concentration of oxygen though nasal tubes - for his entourage.  It was claimed that he asked everyone to avoid eye contact with him, and demanded a special mirror to magnify his reflection.  (TheDailyMail)

Elton John wants the internet closed down.

He claims it is destroying good music, saying: “The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.

“Instead they sit at home and make their own records, which is sometimes OK but it doesn’t bode well for long-term artistic vision.

“It’s just a means to an end.

“We’re talking about things that are going to change the world and change the way people listen to music and that’s not going to happen with people blogging on the internet.

“I mean, get out there — communicate.

“Hopefully the next movement in music will tear down the internet.

“Let’s get out in the streets and march and protest instead of sitting at home and blogging.

“I do think it would be an incredible experiment to shut down the whole internet for five years and see what sort of art is produced over that span.

“There’s too much technology available.

“I’m sure, as far as music goes, it would be much more interesting than it is today.”

He said: “In the early Seventies there were at least ten albums released every week that were fantastic.

“Now you’re lucky to find ten albums a year of that quality.

“And there are more albums released each week now than there were then.”

Bottom Line: Elton John is known for his off the wall rants, but this time he made some sense. KOAR talked about the creative drought and its main contributer–the internet. Creativity holds third place. The drought will continue unless artists make some drastic changes…

(SunOnline)

Terra Firma said a takeover bid for EMI has won necessary shareholder support, paving the way for the troubled recorded music company EMI to be acquired in a deal valued at 2.4 billion pounds ($4.8 billion).

We hear Paramore is the highest grossing band on Warped Tour as of right now. KROQ LA just added Misery Business.

ASCAP has filed 26 infrigement actions against nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in 17 states who are playing songs without permission. Without a special license owners of these clubs could be sued for playing any one of 8 million recorded songs, even from their own CD’s. Legal action is becoming quite calming.

Apple iTunes has sold more than 3 billion songs. When will iTunes become the biggest retailer for music? could be sooner than most people think…..

This Week Sales…..

Prince
Planet Earth
TW 95,508

Hannah Montana
Soundtrack
TW 92,372
Total 847,313

Sum 41
Underclass Hero
TW 44,601

Linkin Park
Minutes to Midnight
TW 41,785
Total 1,444,710

Plain White T’s
Every Second Counts
TW 39,190
Total 368,441

Kelly Clarkson
My December
TW 30,675
Total 535,847

Carrie Underwood
Some Hearts
TW 21,314
Total 5,813,436
 
Interpol
Our Love to Admire
TW 13,853
Total 109,619

Paramore
RIOT!
TW 13,241
Total 129,212

Boys Like Girls
TW 12,366
Total 198,850

The publisher of Eminem’s music has filed a federal lawsuit against Apple for selling downloads of his songs without permission.

Apple has an agreement with Universal Music Group, the record company that owns the recordings, but doesn’t deal directly with publishers, who own the rights to scores and lyrics.

Eight Mile Style, and copyright manager Martin Affiliated seek more than $75,000 for copyright infringement, unfair competition and a violation of the Michigan consumer protection act. The lawsuit also asks for damages of up to $150,000 per infringement - or each time a song is downloaded.

(AP)