Music Ally

The most entertaining music piracy story this week concerns the leaking of four new U2 tracks online. Why? Because the source of the leak was allegedly Bono himself. Not in the way you think, though. Apparently the frontman was playing the music loud in his South France villa, and a passerby recorded them and uploaded (more…)

Sit down for this news: Guns’n'Roses might actually be preparing to release their “Chinese Democracy” album. No, really, Reports even suggest the band is at the stage of discussing exclusive distribution deals (more…)

We wrote yesterday about reports that Playlouder has signed a deal with a UK ISP that will allow users to download music using peer-to-peer applications, with the ISP compensating the rightsholders. However, CEO Paul Hitchman has now labelled the reports “pure speculation” and said it has no announcement to (more…)

Financial marketwatchers have been pointing out that Apple’s market capitalisation has just reached $158.84 billion - significant, because it’s overtaken Google’s $157.23 billion. It’s more because Google’s (more…)

Vodafone has launched a new mobile music download store in the UK, which takes the form of an application sitting on the user’s phone. It’s selling a la carte tracks starting at £0.99, with albums starting at £5.99. (more…)

Currently, mobile content firm Jamba is owned 49% by Verisign and 51% by News Corporation. However, it seems that could change soon, with Verisign having announced that it’s putting its Content and Messaging Services unit up for sale - which includes Jamba. The company says it’s had interest “in both parts and the whole” of the division, with News Corp being the most likely candidate to assume full control. However, that’s assuming it wants to…

Want a hotshot director for your artist’s new video?  Why pay loads for one, when you can find a grateful Web 2.0 user who’ll do it on the cheap (while soliciting ideas from hundreds more that might come in handy for other acts). (more…)

After protracted negotiations, Sony is now the full owner of Sony BMG, having paid former partner Bertelsmann Media Group $1.2 billion to buy out its 50% stake. The company will be renamed as Sony Music Entertainment, and will sit within Sony’s North American division. (more…)

News Corporation has reported that revenues at its Fox Interactive Media unit rose 23% year-on-year to $225 million in the second quarter, although income fell to $6 million from $24 million in the same period, which the company says is due to increased investments. (more…)

NPD Group has released its latest analysis of the US music retail market, claiming that iTunes is still the biggest retailer (this is including both physical and digital sales). Wal-Mart and Best Buy remain in second and third places respectively, but Amazon has vaulted Target to take fourth spot. (more…)