Amazon's new CreateSpace services enable independent artists and labels to get into Amazon network at low cost. These drives echo previous initiatives from Amazon to monetise the small business owner in digital music.

 

Under a decision handed down by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), the mechanical royalty rate that digital retailers like iTunes must pay songwriters and music publishers will stay the same - 9 cents per song. In deciding to freeze royalty rates, the CRB rejected both the publishers' petition for a 66% rate hike and digital retailers' request to cut royalty payments to songwriters by 55%.

EU industry ministers agreed to plans for a European piracy observatory to stem fakes and copies ravaging the movie and music industry in Brussels on Friday.

 

 Applications for SXSW 2009 are now open, calling all SA bands to submit to perform at the largest most credible music performance showcase in the world.

 

 

Just as more and more sites are adding full song streams, ASCAP and BMI are trying to get paid for 30 second song samples.  The Digital Media Association (DiMA) filed an amicus brief today in the case of ASCAP vs. AT&T Mobile asking the federal district court to rule that 30-second music preview clips are “fair use” and do not justify public performance royalties as demanded by songwriter and music publisher representatives.

 

Collection Society NORM has issued a multi-million rand summons against ExactMobile, claiming unpaid royalties due on digital downloads sold by Exact Mobile, the Primedia Ltd controlled Johannesburg-based mobile content provider.

AIRCO Member and reknowned South African independent label African Cream Music is currently compiling an upcoming compilation "consisting of lounge, groove and laid back music" and invites all AIRCO Members and other African artists and labels to submit suitable material.