Music Ally

With a new DRM-free music store being launched every week (seemingly), Digital Music News has an interesting article on Live Nation subsidiary Musictoday, and its plans to run MP3 download stores for artists.

The article suggests that Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and EMI have all signed licensing deals allowing Musictoday to sell MP3s on artist sites. Well, kind of - the actual deals have apparently been signed with US firm appliedSB, which will be hosting and delivering the actual downloads within those artist sites.

“We’ll be turning on sites for the artists and labels that have given us the authorisation to do so,” says appliedSB boss Todd McGee.

Another day, another deal for online music talent contest site OurStage. This one’s a biggie though: it’s negotiated a deal with Live Nation to offer opening slots at 300 gigs across the US at Live Nation’s venues. (more…)

Her hips might not lie, but they’re very, very rich. Yes, the rumours about Shakira signing a big-bucks Live Nation deal were correct: the Colombian singer has signed a ten-year deal worth anything between $70 million and $100 million, depending which excited industry source you believe. (more…)

Earlier this week, Live Nation claimed it may sign a couple more 360 deals this year with big-name artists, scotching rumours that it was going cold on the strategy. Now Fox News has some informed speculation on who those artists might be. They claim that Nickelback could be in line for a full 360 deal, while Shakira may sign some kind of deal covering concerts and CDs only

The rumours were true: a week on,  Live Nation chairman Michael Cohl has resigned. However  he’s tied in as a consultant until 2012, with a non-compete clause running until 2016. The company has played down the reports of a clash between Cohl and CEO Michael Rapino over Live Nation’s 360 deal strategy, and it seems it’ll continue - Rapino says the firm is close to signing “another superstar”, and may reach 5-6 such deals by the end of the year.

A report in UK newspaper The Observer yesterday suggests the Rolling Stones are on the verge of ending their relationship with EMI, in favour of a megadeal with Live Nation, involving touring, merchandising AND the band’s back catalogue. Universal Music Group would apparently be involved, licensing the latter for new digital and CD compilations. Because there aren’t enough Rolling Stones compilations in the world.