Warner Bros., which has been one of the most visible opponents of DRM_free downloads, has caved in and is selling MP3 copies of everything in it’s music catalogue, according to wired.com. Warner Bros. has laid off many staff members and its share price has fallen to below $6 a share, compared to a $23.92 high for the year, so the move might have been forced by the numbers.
With the exception of Josh Groban’s Noel CD, CD sales for the Christmas season were dismal, falling 21% from last year. Variety online has the details
‘Tis the end of the year, when scribes of all media scrabble around, searching for an easy column. J. L. Puckett found his: the most popular downloads on iTunes. Read it yourself here.
The show of the weekend just has to be the complete re-creation of the music from “The Last Waltz,” the Band’s farewell movie. Lined up to play are Lexington rockers Tula and John Mann, who together act as The Band, plus Joe Manning, Fire the Saddle, Tim Krekel, Rodney Hatfield, Tyrone Cotton, Brigid Kaelin and Sean Hopkins, Mick Sullivan and David Nofsinger. J. L. Puckett rounds out the details.
Three of the folks from Rachels, Jason Noble, Christian Frederickson and Greg King are providing a live musical soundtrack to Actors Theatre’s production of “The Tempest.” The Courier-Journal has the story
Over at Backseat Sandbar, Nicholas Hart has a post detailing the schedule and initial artist lineup for Terrastock, set for June 19-22 at the Mellwood Arts And Entertainment Center.
Over at LEO, the December 26 issue is a must-do Top Ten issue. The critics all contribute.
Over at Velocity, Joseph Lord’s contribution to the December 26 issue is a combined review of three Louisville recordings: Health and Happiness Family Gospel Band, Health and Happiness Family Gospel Band; Bluegrass City 3, various rappers and Who Watches The Watchmen?, Consume Consumer. Read them here.
To all our friends, readers, writers and music fans, may you get all the music you want next year!
The Editor
Verizon Wireless has signed an agreement with Activision, creators of Guitar Hero III to deliver the game to users’ mobile phones. can see it now:some young (or not-so-young) player gets so absorbed in Guitar Hero while driving down the road… Read the details at futuremusic.com