Label:Life

Nearly a year after Microsoft Corp. agreed to end its anticompetitive conduct, the government is raising concerns the world’s largest software maker is trying to use its dominant Windows operating system to influence where customers buy their music online.

If the dispute isn’t resolved by week’s end, it could become the first test of Microsoft’s landmark antitrust settlement that was approved by a federal court in October 2002.

Lawyers for the Justice Department and 19 state attorneys general have formally complained to a federal judge about a design feature of Windows that compels consumers who buy music online to use only Microsoft’s Internet browser and steers them to a Web site operated by the company.

Microsoft’s design ‘’may be inconsistent’’ with the settlement, government lawyers wrote in court papers asking U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to intervene if the problems aren’t resolved. [more @ www.crmassist.com]

Van Morrison has signed a worldwide deal with EMI Music’s legendary Blue Note label, giving one of music’s most creative figures a home at the prestigious jazz label.

Morrison’s Blue Note debut, What’s Wrong With This Picture? will be released world wide on October 21, 2003 and draws upon the jazz & blues influences that Morrison has explored consistently throughout his storied career. Setting the stage for this thirteen song collection is the title cut, which opens the album with Morrison musing on the changes time brings. Invoking a smoky jazz club with swinging electric guitar lines and lush strings, he sings: “What’s wrong with this picture?/ Doesn’t anybody see/ That’s who everyone thought/ That I used to be.”
[more @ www.mi2n.com]

Radio stations must pay copyright fees to the artists and record labels whose songs they play over the Internet, a U.S. appeals court ruled in a decision it released Monday.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia decision upholds the rulings of a lower court and the U.S. Copyright Office that radio stations must pay such royalties.

Several radio station owners appealed last year, arguing that they should not have to pay royalties to performers for their Internet broadcasts, because they do not pay them for regular, over-the-air broadcasts. more @ www.news.com]

WEA London has teamed up with Shazam and HMV to promote the release of Holly Valance’s forthcoming single ‘State of mind’.

The promotion offers fans the opportunity to preview the single, released next Monday and offers a £1 discount via SMS if they decide to buy it, redeemable through HMV stores. [Musicweek 25.10.03]

Four Japanese electronics makers have teamed up to make stereo systems that can download music directly from an Internet service, without a home computer serving as middle man.

Sony Corp., Sharp Corp., Pioneer Corp. and Kenwood Corp. unveiled prototypes of the new equipment Tuesday and said they expect the systems to go on sale early next year. There are no plans yet for marketing it overseas, the companies said.

Each company owns one-fourth of a joint venture, Any Music Planning Inc., that developed the Linux-based stereo equipment in an attempt to adapt to rapid changes engulfing the music industry. [more @ www.bayarea.com]

Glasgow’s Soma Records have teamed up with Channel 4 to run a Soma Skool giving young people in Scotland the chance to learn about a career in the music industry. The event will take place on 31 Oct as part of Glasgow’s ‘Inspiration’ week and to coincide with the MusicWorks conference taking place in the city.

Soma Records director Richard Brown told us: “We came up with the idea of Soma Skool as a way to encourage young people to think about the music industry as a real career option. Understanding the different areas involved allows them to see that the music industry is about more than the artist and record, there are lots of people who can make the final release possible and within that, lots of different career options. We want people to see the vibrancy of the Scottish music industry and do our bit in making sure that it remains so by encouraging new talented people to join it in the future.” www.cmuonline.co.uk

Whoppit, the London based company , have expanded into press promotion and public relations to the entertainment industry with a heavy biased towards the Music business.

C.E.O. Phil Gould quotes “We are looking to hook up with Labels, Managers, Artistes and all those that would benefit from having a dedicated company servicing their UK press needs in this vital and ever changing arena”

Aside from companies based in the UK they are extremely keen to talk with overseas organisations that do not have existing arrangements in this field, but would benefit in doing so.

For more information contact phil@whoppit.net

This week’s pick is another unsigned gem from singer/songwriter Kirsty Hawkshaw. You may recognise Kirsty’s ethereal voice from ‘Fine Day’ by Opus 3, a massive crossover hit in the early 90’s.

This track,’Just Be’ is co-written by Judie Tzuke (yes, the one and only!) and producer Jimmy Gomez.

A very well produced house/dance track with Kirsty’s beautiful voice and lyrics coming to the fore, generating interest in the states as we speak, I urge someone to sign this tune sharpish, as it has commercial hit written all over it. Have a listen HERE. You can contact us for more info at liam@yourrelease.com .

If, like me you are prone to giving out about things that irk you, have a look at www.holymoly.com , in particular ‘C***s Corner’. It’s great fun and actually increases productivity by lowering stress levels caused by pent up anger. Honest.

The US media giant Time Warner is close to selling its Warner Music division to the British group EMI, though other potential players continue to fine-tune bids as well.

Time Warner is looking to close the transaction with EMI for about one billion dollars (850 million euros) in cash, the New York Times reported in its online edition, quoting senior executives.

But that arrangement is testing the loyalties of the division’s chairman, Roger Ames, who had been on the verge of selling to the Bertelsmann unit BMG, the newspaper added Monday. [more @ www.channelnewsasia.com]