Search Results for: soft play

The U.S. Justice Department has launched an antitrust investigation into two online music services, both scheduled to launch this fall, that are backed by the world’s largest record companies. According to two senior executives in the record industry, federal investigators notified the record labels that they intend to examine possible anti-competitive aspects of the digital music ventures created by the music industry’s big five: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music, EMI Group and BMG. The Justice Department does not comment on ongoing investigations. The two online services under investigation, MusicNet and pressplay, are the record industry’s best effort… Read more »

Music by Britney Spears, ‘NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and Tool will be legally available online this year, thanks to a deal announced Tuesday (July 24) between the artists’ record company and the fledgling subscription service MusicNet. Zomba, which boasts the Jive imprint, home to Spears, Aaron Carter, Mystikal and other hot acts, is the fourth record company to join MusicNet, which is scheduled to launch in the fall. MusicNet is set to be available through America Online, RealPlayer software and even the planned subscription version of Napster. “People ask, ‘will there be compelling major-label content available through MusicNet?’ ” the… Read more »

Globix Corporation has announced that Clear Channel Interactive has selected Globix to host and manage the systems infrastructure for a substantial portion of its online business. Globix will provide network software with monitoring, reporting, management, and security services. Globix is also designing and building the network architecture for CCI’s offerings. The company had previously hosted all its online radio websites in-house. Clear Channel Interactive is a division of Clear Channel Worldwide, Inc., which owns or operates approximately 1170 radio and 19 television stations in the United States, and has equity interests in more than 240 radio stations internationally. The company… Read more »

Embattled song-swap service Napster Inc. said Monday it was using new digital encoding technology to power a subscription-based service it hopes to launch this summer. Napster said the technology, licensed from PlayMedia Systems, would enable Napster’s software to encode, recognize and play copyright-protected music files on the membership service. “Napster is at the forefront of using some extremely advanced rights management and security technologies in a file-sharing environment,” Napster’s interim CEO Hank Barry said in a statement. Napster, fighting for its life in a legal battle with the recording industry, went offline this month as engineers sought to fix problems… Read more »

For the first time in almost four years, one of Australia’s most successful rock bands, INXS, is playing a few shows in North America. But the crowd at their recent Los Angeles stop consisted of about 70 Rhino Records employees and a few reporters, just two of the band’s six members were on stage, and the bespectacled singer looked nothing like Michael Hutchence, the group’s charismatic vocalist. Hutchence committed suicide in November 1997, and his bandmates are having a hard time deciding whether to carry on. In the meantime, they have released a two-CD anthology, “Shine Like It Does,” via… Read more »

Influential guitarist Chet Atkins, who helped modernize country music in the 1960s, paving the way for the massive commercial force that it is today, died in Nashville Saturday. He was 77. In 1973 and in 1997, Atkins had fought both colon cancer and brain cancer, surviving a number of surgeries. Atkins, enjoyed a multi-faceted career: as a sought-after session musician for the likes of Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers; as a prolific recording artist in his own right; and as a veteran Nashville talent scout. His discoveries included Charley Pride and Waylon Jennings. Atkins was one of the most… Read more »

Internet media network Yahoo! Inc. said on Thursday it plans to buy Webcasting company Launch Media Inc. for $12 million in an effort to boost its own music properties, which have failed to gain traction over the last two years. Yahoo is betting that Launch, which designed a Web service that tailors Internet radio playlists to the tastes of individual users, would provide key features to complement its music services. Yahoo already offers music CD sales, downloads of digital music files and its own Webcasting efforts. The company plans to pay 92 cents a share, which represents a 59 percent… Read more »

Eerie rap-metal sextet Linkin Park will join Stone Temple Pilots and angst-ridden hitmakers Staind on the third edition of Family Values this fall. “As it stands right now, it’ll be Stone Temple Pilots, with us playing before them and Linkin Park playing before us, and then two unknown bands that I’m sure will rock also,” Staind frontman Aaron Lewis said. A source close to Linkin Park confirmed the Southern California group is on the trek. Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland said in April that STP would top the bill. Family Values producer John Scher said Monday (June 25) that… Read more »

Midway Games Inc., a leading software industry publisher and developer, announced today that Island Gold Recording act Saliva will re-record the popular song “Theme From Peter Gunn,” for the all-new remake of the classic SpyHunter ® videogame, scheduled to ship this fall for the PlayStation ®2 computer entertainment system. Saliva will record two new versions of “Theme From Peter Gunn,” one instrumental format as well as a lyrical version. Both are expected to be used to add intensity to the relentless action in the SpyHunter videogame. Additionally, a music video containing behind-the-scenes footage of Saliva’s recording session and band interviews… Read more »

Duet – a joint venture between music giants Vivendi Universal and Sony Corp – has quietly been lining up new leadership and negotiating with potential partners, including Microsoft Corp., sources close to the venture said Friday. Although rival online music service MusicNet stole the spotlight this week by striking a licensing deal with song-swap company Napster, Duet is expected to announce the appointment of Andy Schuon to head the year-old venture, a move that could come as early as next week, the sources said. Vivendi Universaland Sony Corpboth declined to comment on the expected appointment or on whether they are… Read more »