record labels

• 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)

• The Orchard has inked a deal for marketing and digital distribution rights, outside of North American, to all Sony/ATV Music Publishing owned master recordings. The deal covers labels Dial Records, Four Star, Hickory and Challenge Records.

City is being used for private profit

By COUNCILMAN MICHAEL CRADDOCK, The Tennessean, July 31, 2008

• Based on information for industry sources, this article at The Register predicts the UK may have legal broadband music subscriptions by the end of the year. (The Register)

Remember when the FDA beefed up its food labeling requirements way back when?

• The Rolling Stones are rumored to be nearing a deal with Live Nation. "It is understood that Universal will have a role, with Live Nation licensing new versions of the catalogue to the American label, which would sell them online and as CDs." (The Guardian)

Here's what went on at the hearing before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

Nancy Sinatra spoke on behalf of musicFIRST. "In no other business is the promise of promotion justification for the taking of someone's product."

• Record labels have sued Spanish P2P developer Pablo Soto for making available software that can be used for piracy. The meat of the complaint appears to be in the company's marketing pitch: Users were lured with promises of free music.

Entertainment distributor Handleman is going to get out of the music business. Getting out of music will result in downsizing the company by about 260 employees. Handleman is one of two, along with Anderson Merchandising, that supplies Wal-Mart with CDs.

What to do with one's content? How does one weigh the benefits of free versus paid?