music companies

• Labels are in talks with Hulu that could result in a new music video destination. "Representatives of two music companies, who would not be named, said they were in discussions with Hulu, adding that no partnership announcement was imminent but that the site appeared to be the favoured partner. 'If it happens at all it will be with Hulu,' one said.

• Here's a contrast of two countries: Last week's U.S. new releases included two superstar albums (Kanye West, Guns N' Roses) that did not live up to expectations. In the U.K., Take That just set a record for first-day album sales. The album is dead. The album lives. (Reuters)

Apple has quietly added a “feature” to their latest round of MacBooks to prevent customers from playing digital rights managed (DRM) movies purchased through their iTunes Store on non-compliant external displays.

Digital gets all the attention, but the physical world needs an overhaul. EMI's plan to outsource distribution, reported on Friday by Fortune's David Leonard, would be a sensible strategy that is actually overdue.

At Musexpo an A&R panel decried the lack of good albums being brought to market. "We don’t make enough good records," declared Epic Records managing director.

The above chart shows the percent increase/decrease in album sales in each week of 2008 versus the same week in 2007. It's obvious most of the curve is below zero, but the thing I have seen lately is that the trend is upward in the second half of the year.

• The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is putting its catalog of Broadway musical show tunes and standards up for bid. The price is in the $150 million to $200 million range. In addition to major music companies, hedge funds and private equity firms are also said to be interested in the catalog. (Reuters)

Over the last few days, much commentary has been offered on how Sony's acquisition of Bertelsmann's half of Sony BMG can be used as a measuring stick for other music companies. That's a low-tech way of saying people are comparing multiples and valuing companies.

• Ticketmaster, the new IAC spin-off, will probably start off with $750 million in debt and $450 in cash.

The Guardian's Richard Wachman had the best of the weekend's articles about EMI (pieces about Guy Hands and EMI show up every weekend, like clockwork). The trust of the article is that EMI's fate ultimately lies in its ability to sign and develop new artists.