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For the first time since the chart’s rollout in July, the No. 1-selling song on Hot Digital Tracks bests the weekly total of the No. 1 title on Hot 100 Singles. With the rollout of Napster 2.0, sales data of digital tracks takes another step north, resulting in OutKast’s “Hey Ya! (Radio Mix)” selling 8,500 downloads compared with 7,500 physical singles scanned of MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine.” This occurrence, if not the speed with which it was accomplished, was predicted in most music quarters once the business model of digital distribution was in place. While it appears that the… Read more »

Even though the RIAA continues to go after Internet file-sharers, millions of music fans keep downloading songs. Naturally, this hurts album sales, which were down around 12 percent for the first half of 2003. To try to convince people to actually buy albums again, record companies have offered value-added packaging such as the ever-popular bonus DVD, which typically contains backstage footage, exclusive interviews, videos and maybe a live recording or two. But adding a DVD can be costly. Labels typically pay between one and two dollars per extra disc, which means as much as an additional $2 million for an… Read more »

John Mellencamp has lashed out at PresidentGeorge W. Bush and America’s foreign policy. In an open letter he co-wrote with his wife Elaine, Mellencamp blasts the powers that be for demonizing as “anti-American and unpatriotic” anyone who questions the policies of the U.S. government and the war in Iraq. Mellencamp uses words and phrases like “systematically lied to,” “the political ‘hijacking’ of Iraq,” “this misadventure,” and “the globe’s leading bully. Arrogant and thoughtless” to describe the current situation, before writing, “Now, each day, as the dust settles and the truth slowly surfaces, more and more people come to the inevitable… Read more »

Coming soon to a Windows PC near you: Apple Computer Inc.’s. popular iTunes online music store, which analysts say will join an already crowded market that could mute its chances of repeating the success of the Macintosh-only version. The computer maker is set to unveil this week the long-promised Windows-compatible version of its online music service. Last week, it sent invitations to reporters for an event on Thursday in San Francisco proclaiming, “The year’s biggest music story is about to get even bigger.” An Apple spokesman declined further comment. Yet now, some analysts say that while iTunes for Windows may… Read more »

Years of discussion about a new studio album from the surviving members of the Who appears to be finally giving way to action. A post on guitarist Pete Townshend’s official Web site (http://www.petetownshend.co.uk) reveals that he and frontman Roger Daltrey will begin demoing new material “before the end of the year” and plan to hit the studio in March. Songs intended for the group’s first studio album in 21 years “will be based on story, now complete, ‘The Boy Who Heard Music.”‘ The set is being targeted for a summer 2004 release date on an as-yet-undetermined label and will be… Read more »

You know The Ataris’ current hit “Boys Of Summer?” Those SoCal punkers actually didn’t want you to hear that tune. Ever. Well, at least not their version of it. “That was something we DID NOT want released as a single,” grunts bassist/vocalist Mike Davenport about the Don Henley cover tune. “We didn’t even want it on our album, but the record label pushed for it and it proved to be a good idea. They respected our wishes to not release it as an actual single, but the radio stations decided to play it and it caught on. There’s nothing you… Read more »

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake may appear together in an ad campaign for the Gap, according to Britain’s itv.com. The former couple is reportedly being eyed for the new television ad, which would likely be one of the most talked about commercials in the company’s history if the deal is approved by all parties involved. The pair would reportedly receive more than $1 million each for their work, according to itv.com. In related news, Timberlake was voted the sexiest man in the world, according to a survey by England’s Company magazine released this week. The *NSYNC singer jumped up 46… Read more »

Aerosmith and Kiss launched their coheadlining tour on Saturday (August 2) at the Ctnow.com Meadows Music Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Befitting their status as heavyweight champions, both bands came to win, but Aerosmith was declared the victor at the end of the night. Following a quick opening set by Saliva that was received fairly, if not enthusiastically, Kiss came out to their traditional “You Wanted The Best, You Got The Best” introduction and played a hit-filled 14-song set including “Detroit Rock City,” “Shout It Out Loud,” “I Love It Loud,” “God Of Thunder,” and “Rock And Roll All Nite.” However,… Read more »

The music industry may have begun to figure out how to sell digital downloads, but making money from them is another story. As the 99 cent digital singles model begins to take root across the industry through services like Apple Computer’s iTunes Music Store, Liquid Audio, Rhapsody and a host of others set to bow for the PC this fall, industry executives and artist representatives are questioning whether the pricing model makes sense financially. With all parties involved angling for nickels and dimes in the average download sale, labels, artists and service providers all agree on at least one thing:… Read more »

On the heels of their nearly sold-out Roads Outside Columbus Tour, grassroots rockers O.A.R. are set to tour the United States once again. The band is partnering up with funk-metal rockers 311 and Something Corporate for the Unity Tour and planning to hit the road July 25 through August 11th- prior to jumping on the diverse Sprite Liquid Mix tour, featuring N.E.R.D, The Roots, Talib Kweli, and Robert Randolph and the Family Band beginning August 14th in Denver. O.A.R., considered one of the most successful DIY bands in recent history, will support their critically acclaimed new album In Between Now… Read more »