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• Microsoft's Xbox will sell Warner Music Group vidoes for $1.99 apiece. Sony BMG already sells videos via Xbox for the same price. (AP)

Montgomery Gentry threw a little shindig at ASCAP for their recent #1 Song,

• The European Commission has set a deadline of September 15 for its inquiry into Sony Corp.'s proposed acquisition of Bertelsmann AG.'s 50 percent stake in Sony BMG. (Thomson Financial)

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.

The nuts and bolts of Warner Music Group's Q3 2008 earnings release are below.

Pali Research, says this lengthy and worth-reading blog post at the Wall Street Journal's Deal Journal, suggested that EMI purchase Warner Chappel Music Publishing from Warner Music Group. The odds of that happening are slim to none, as Deal Journal explained.

• Vodafone UK has launched Vodafone Music, a new mobile music store available on select Vodafone Live! Handsets. Singles and albums cost on average £0.99 ($1.93) and £7.99 ($15.58) respectively. (Music Week)

• The Senate passed changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965 with provisions that aim to tackle illegal file-sharing. The bill requires universities to create plans to implement technologies that will prevent illegal file sharing and offer to legal alternatives.

• Breakout by Miley Cyrus tops the album chart with a pretty decent first week tally of 371,000 units. Sugarland's Love on the Inside is the runner up with 314,000. (Billboard.biz)

• Rob Wells, Universal Music Group's SVP of digital, has immense faith in bundled subscriptions like the one (with Sky) announced last week. "Universal believes that subscription is the future of music consumption. ...