Morning Fix: Daniel Glass on Mumford & Sons; Microsoft and Rdio; Adele Returns; Jay-Z’s New YouTube Channel
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JEFF CASTELAZ NAMED PRESIDENT OF ELEKTRA RECORDS:Jeff Castelaz has been named President of Elektra Records, where he will oversee all areas of the label's operationworking with existing signings and developing new talent. Castelaz, who co-founded Dangerbird Records and Music Publishing in 2003and left the company in mid-September, will report directly to Atlantic Records chairman and CEO Craig Kallman and chairman and COO Julie Greenwald.
Billboard.biz
MICROSOFT AND RDIO? THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE:Microsoft is in acquisitions talks with music subscription serviceRdio, according to various reports. The rumors bring together two companies connected by a recent acquisition. Rdio co-founders Friis Niklas and Zennström previously created Skype— and file-sharing network KaZaA before that — which they sold to eBay for $2.6 billion in 2005. Microsoft purchased Skype from eBay last year for $8.5 billion.
Billboard.biz
GLASSNOTE'S DANIEL GLASS ON MUMFORD & SONS' 600K SALES WEEK: Glassnote Records founder Daniel Glasstells Billboard his team is "totally enjoying Mumford & Sons' massive sales week." [There's] a lot of excitement, and a lot of validation being an independent,"he says. " I don't get hung up on the numbers — it's the first week, and you can go nuts with that stuff." The Mumfords feel similarly. " I don't think the band has ever asked me about a number since I've met them. It's not their language. They just can't wait to get back here on the road."
Billboard.biz
Pick up this week's Billboard featuring a Mumford & Sons cover story HERE.
TERRA FIRMA ASKS FOR NEW TRIAL OVER EMI PURCHASE:Terra Firma Capital Partners LP asked a U.S. appeals court on Thursday to order a new trial in its lawsuit over its claims that it was deceived by Citigroup into bidding for British music company EMI Group PLC, which it lost control of last year.Terra Firma argues that in its previous trial a judge erred in his instructions to the jury.
Wall Street Journal
GOTYE, RADIOHEAD SIGN ANTI-SECONDARY TICKETING CHARTER:The UK's Association of Independent Festivalshas launched an anti-secondary ticketing chartersigned by more than 55 industry execs, artists, promoters and festivals. The Fair Ticketing Charter
states says the growth of "secondary ticketing is bad for fans andbad for live entertainment"and means "real fans are deprived of the opportunity to… see artists they love while speculators cash in."Signees promise transparency with ticket pricing and distribution for events they control
Music Week
U.K. RECORD LABELS GENERATED ONE-FIFTH OF REVENUE FROM 'DIVERSIFIED' INCOME STREAMS IN 2011: The value of diversifying income streamshas been illustrated by new figuresreleased byBritish labels trade body the BPI.According to the BPI, a fifth(20.5%) of all U.K. record company turnover in 2011 came from revenues generated outside of traditional CD, DVD and digital services.
Billboard.Biz
ADELE'S BOND THEME TOPS UK ITUNES CHART HOURS AFTER RELEASE: "Skyfall," the new Bond theme sung by Adele,has topped the iTunes chart after being released online in the early hours of Fridaymorning. It was number one within 10 hours of being released, overtaking last week's official UK number one, PSY's "Gangnam Style."
BBC
JAY-Z TO LIVE-STREAM LAST BARCLAYS CONCERT ON NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL:Jay-Z is live-streaming the last of his eight concerts at Brooklyn's Barclays Center for the launchof his new YouTube channel. The rapper announced Thursday his performance at the new sports arena will be live-streamed on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. He says it'll air on his new Life and Times channel.
Associated Press
BLUE NOTE RECORDS APP FOR IPAD BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH OPENEMI INITIATIVE:The iPad app released by Blue Note Records on Thursday appears to offer a wonderful experience through the legendary jazz label's storied history.But the real kickerhere is how the app was made:The Blue Note app is the first commercially released product from OpenEMI,an initiative EMI created to give app developers access to EMI music and other content.
Billboard.biz
APPLE POSTS STEVE JOBS REMEMBRANCE ON YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING:Apple has posted a video on its homepage today
,
with footage of Steve Jobs over the yearsspeaking at keynotes and Apple events, showing images of him and the products he createdthat changed the way we think about and use computers and mobile devices.Steve Jobs passed away a year ago today on October 5, 2011,after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
TechCrunch
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