Musicians vs. Labels
Most aspiring musicians dream of the day they will sign a contract with a major record label. Too often, the dreams become nightmares from which they can escape only much later in life.
Barry Willis
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EMI, Virgin Records Endorse SACD
The Super Audio CD has won the endorsement of two more major record labels, according to press releases issued the last week of August. The announcements followed by only a few days one by <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11123/">Universal Music Group</A> that it would begin producing the high-resolution recordings for mass distribution.
More Layoffs; Japan Unemployment a Record
Just as the Asian economic crisis a few years ago dealt a big blow to American high-end audio manufacturers, the slowing American economy is causing repercussions for Japanese companies.
Satellite Radio Faces Many Obstacles
Now that satellite radio services <A HREF="http://www.xmradio.com">XM Radio</A> and <A HREF="http://www.siriusradio.com">Sirius Radio</A> have their "birds" in position, they are encountering a slew of unexpected roadblocks here on earth. Among the problems: loss of signal in tunnels and urban canyons, interference with wireless communications, and a lighting technology that emits strong radio waves close to the broadcasters' assigned bands.
Universal Music Goes with SACD
Have the format wars begun in earnest? Only a few days after Warner Brothers announced the DVD-Audio release of Paul Simon's <I>You're the One</I>, <A HREF="http://www.umusic.com">Universal Music Group</A> announced its plan to release titles in the Super Audio CD format.
Paul Simon Releases DVD-A
Two years after they were first announced, DVD-Audio discs may finally be on their way from major labels.
Antitrust Probe of Online Music Plans
When does cooperation become collusion? When does collusion become anti-competitive? Investigators at the US Justice Department have begun asking such questions in regard to plans by major music labels to make their wares available on the Internet.
CEA Supports Music Online Act
The Music Online Competition Act (MOCA) has won the imprimatur of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), according to an announcement made August 8. The recently-introduced <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11107/">bipartisan bill</A> crafted by Congressmen Chris Cannon (R-Utah) and Rick Boucher (D-Virginia) intends to insure competition in the delivery of online music—and to preserve music lovers' rights to copy their own recordings for private use.
Copyright Rulings and Legislation
The <A HREF="http://www.nab.org">National Association of Broadcasters</A> has lost a round in its fight to avoid paying royalties for music streamed over the Internet.
FTC: Three Tenors—The Fix Was In
<A HREF="http://www.umusic.com">Universal Music Group</A> and <A HREF="http://www.wmg.com">Warner Music Group</A> are more than friendly competitors, in the view of the <A HREF="http://www.ftc.gov">Federal Trade Commission</A>. They are also partners in crime, according to charges filed against the two on July 31 in New York.