December update: News

--- EMI Publishing sign JLS to mega deal ---

EMI Music Publishing is looking to create writing collaborations between JLS and some of its key talents such as Stargate after signing the X Factor runners-up in one of the biggest publishing deals of the year.

--- Myspace Music arrives in UK by Ben Cardew 03/12/09 in Music Week ---

MySpace Music finally goes live in the UK today, some 14 months after launching in the US.
The service offers UK consumers ad-supported streaming, downloads via iTunes, video content, charts and personal playlists from music fans including Katie Price and The Vatican.

All of the majors are on board, as well as a number of independent aggregators, including Merlin, The Orchard, IODA and Nettwerk Music Group.
The service also includes the MySpace Artist dashboard, a free tool that gives artists access to demographic, social and activity data of their core fans.
MySpace also announced today that it has signed a licence deal with PRS for Music, allowing songwriters to be paid for their work featuring on the new service.

“We’re excited to be launching MySpace Music in the UK, a genuinely innovative service that brings artists and fans closer than ever before” says MySpace Music president Courtney Holt.
“MySpace has always had an unrivalled reputation for encouraging the enjoyment, discovery and sharing of music, and this launch concentrates and expands on that distinctive character. The way people are consuming music has changed dramatically, and we’re aiming to develop a next-generation platform that builds a sustainable business for MySpace Music, content licensors and artists, while serving fans in a completely unique way.”

The launch was marked by a Kasabian gig in London last night, while 50 Cent, Pixie Lott, Florence & the Machine, Alicia Keys, Chipmunk, David Guetta, Lost Prophets and Nelly Furtado are all taking part in the launch, either starring in interactive films that can be personalised by users to mark the occasion, or creating playlists.
Meanwhile, digital label RCRD LBL has teamed up with MySpace Music to launch RCRD of the Day, a free daily music download. The first wave will include downloads from Kid Sister, Cold War Kids, Major Lazer, Wale, Santigold, Miike Snow and Peter, Bjorn & John.
“RCRD LBL is the one of industry’s more compelling music sites and we are very excited to match their editorial team with ours to curate cutting edge new music for the MySpace community,” says Holt.

“By offering free daily downloads from the hottest new acts via the RCRD of the Day, MySpace Music will continue to be at the forefront of introducing fresh talent to our users.”