Eminem Takes 2002 Album Honors "The Eminem Show" goes seven-times platinum; gloomy holidays for retailers; music-related stocks decline; forthcoming music television programming on UPN, MTV, and PBS; TiVo to allow music downloads; Stones to play free benefit show; Joe Jackson Band reunites; Billboard's biggest hit singles; and Bessman's Top 10 albums
December 2002
Pluses and Minuses for New EU Countries Potential growth in sales-and piracy; Aimster cited with contempt; MSN promotes Lopez with new Web program; AOL tests MusicNet; Listen.com pacts with Sprint; Buzzcocks reunite for U.S. album and tour; and farewell to The Clash's Joe Strummer
McCartney Leads Record Touring Year North American tour grosses $126.1 million; album sales decline continues; name change for Retropolis; Compendia promotes Olsen; MCA stops MoS; ARTISTdirect expands iMUSIC; Hill sets record streams; Roth sues Van Halen; Lovin' Spoonful's Yanovsky dies; and McCartney is miffed
Consumer Confusion Can't grasp copyright laws; Gavin named COO at EMI Recorded Music America; Albertini takes reigns at Warner Music International; WEA moves to New York; BMG strategies; Liquid Audio dissolves; Gateway adds Pressplay; Guns N' Roses shoots blanks; fatal shooting at Sean Paul video shoot; and farewell to Arvell Shaw, Bob Berg, and Stereolab's Mary Hansen
New Titles Boost Sales Retailers pleased with new releases-except for Deborah Cox's; AOL reports big music and video online buy; Clear Channel campaigns against piracy; RealNetworks pacts with Palm; UMG modifies royalty reporting; Milan travels through WMG; Retropolis names Foos; Nas album gets early release; Recording Academy names 2003 honorees; McCartney DVD sets sales record; "Osbournes" fakes reality; Garrett splits Midnight Oil; and farewell to Polo Montanez, Happy Goodman, and Dave "Snaker" Ray
November 2002
Holiday Exclusives Big retailers get better product; Microsoft predicts survival of file sharing; U.K. indies protest BBC, Italian indies protest government; Columbia offers rebates; Sony buys Run Tones; Vivendi sells ringtones; Broken Bow forms C4 label with Consortium; myplay plays out; Gateway Rhapsodizes; UMG downloads via Liquid Audio; and Hadda Brooks dies
Clive Claims RCA Davis to head new RCA Music Group; Roxio to acquire Napster; small Webcasters get royalty break; radio consolidation blamed for listener turn-off; United Stations buys Launch Radio Networks; Broadband Radio@AOL bows; MusicMatch launches "Artist On Demand"; MusicNet clears all majors; BMG discontinues standard deductions; Yoakam launches Electrodisc; Koch distributes SST and DPTV; and farewell to Mose Vinson and Bill Berry
AEC Slams Rap Violence Advocates positive hip-hop; another gloomy music sales forecast; Diller temporarily in charge of UMG; Ryko names Regis; Called Or Music label bows; Sony and Pepsi pact; BMG phones Westlife; EMI puts thousands of tracks up for sale; Pressplay pacts with all five majors; Cablevision distributes Rhapsody; Charter carries FullAudio; Eminem tops the movie charts; and farewell to Johnny Griffith
Jam Master Jay Group formed to aid family of murdered rapper; online music sales decline 25%; Aimster must filter; Jackson sweeps the CMAs; Wariner launches SelecTone; MC Lyte distributes SGI/CMM; "Hip-Hop Nation" goes national; Listen.com pacts with BMG; MP3.com relaunches; Macrovision in merger to facilitate CD burning; Truth Hurts charged with Indian theft; McCartney's U.S. tour grosses $100 million; and farewell to Lonnie Donegan
October 2002
Jam Master Jay Shot Run-DMC DJ dead in New York shooting; New York bill proposed to limit recording contracts; unmarked copy-protected CDs risk alienating consumers; RIAA enlists collegiate anti-piracy support; Russia moves to stem piracy; UMG issues SACD titles; Esposito named president at WEA; Universal South's ebb and flow; RED distributes Trustkill; DMX opens new audio channels; electronic artists oppose Iraq war; Timothy White honored posthumously; Martinez steps down from the bench; and farewell to Tom Dowd and Adolph Green
RIAA Supports Small Webcasters Move follows Senate's stall; UMG halts deductions from royalties; Backer is GM at V2; DataPlay files for bankruptcy; Ecast pacts with DreamWorks; Virgin's plan to speed up record production; Listen.com's new Rhapsody; Sirius's stock shoots up; a new New Edition; Stones, Kravitz, and others support MUSIC; and farewell to Bashful Brother Oswald and Derek Bell
Worldwide Music Decline Value of shipments drops 9.2%; soundtrack albums victimized by piracy; Koch pacts with Sundazed and Babygrande; Def Jam/Def Soul IDs Face the Music; MCA loses Victory; Sugar Hill burns; BMG releases DataPlay titles and licenses content to MusicNet; WMG's hook-up with AT&T; AOL's new features; Muze previews V2; Cyndi Thomson retires; and Ray Conniff dies
Webcaster Aid House bill softens small webcasters' royalty fees; Cali's piracy concerns; UMVD stays on top; VP pacts with Atlantic; Tommy Boy goes to the movies; Strictly Rhythm shutters; BMG licenses to Streamwaves; Listen.com rhapsodizes with Verizon; Buy.com teams with MaximNet; MP3.com gets sued again; Signatures Network provides digital TV music; Sirius' stock jumps; Stevie Wonder benefits Artist Empowerment Coalition; McCartney and Starr tribute Harrison; Elvis and Stones battle it out; "Idol" runner-up Guarini gets RCA deal; new Bon Jovi album bounces; and jazz pianist Ellis Larkins dies
NARAS Names Portnow Zomba exec succeeds Michael Greene at Grammy group; $10 million bid for Napster; $143 million price-fixing settlement for the majors; congressman stalls digital royalty payments; fair-use digital rights bill introduced; downloading diminishes labeling program; industry paralyzed by piracy; MTV Networks buys College Television Network; Music Choice develops interactive music shopping channel; Clear Channel Worldwide bows New Music Network; Dave Stewart's Artist Network links with Palm Pictures; Robbie Williams' biggest deal; Elvis tops the charts; Filter's Richard Patrick sidelined; and Mickey Newbury dies
September 2002
Clarkson Charts Big "Idol"'s single is biggest hit in three years; MUSIC fights illegal downloads; NARM's industry advice; V2 appoints Harlow; Universal South goes Christian; WMG rolls out digital singles; Altnet legitimizes KaZaA; XM takes satellite service outside the car; Sirius links with Gaylord and Grand Ole Opry; Love makes up with Nirvana; and saxophonist Paul Williams dies
Bidding for Napster High interest in Napster assets; RIAA doesn't want to pay; IFPI wants protection; Hollywood's shuffle; Word redefines; Musicrama launches Akire; Red Muzes; VUNet pacts with RFV; WMG licenses with Streamwaves; Uncle Kracker's VH1.com stream; Billboard.com goes Zingy; Juvenile is booked in adult court; Sanz wins big at Latin Grammys; and jazz great Lionel Hampton dies
New Bids for Napster? Minimum asking priced is $6 million; trade groups move against file-swappers; Jupiter predicts bankruptcy for Webcasters; Audiogalaxy, along with Charter Communications, distributes Rhapsody; Microsoft Launches Windows Media 9; more lay-offs at MCA Nashville; Henchmen splits from Motown; Bon Jovi CD buyers get concert ticket access; LA Times fingers B.I.G. in Tupac slaying; and the music business, one year later
Napster Fades Bertelsmann bows out of bid to acquire; Aimster gets hit by a preliminary injunction; RIAA under fire; Koch gets Chopped; Bass out of space; MTV Awards gets biggest viewing audience-and goes Latin; Alan Jackson sets new CMA Awards record; and Kelly Clarkson is your new Idol
August 2002
"Streamies" Good for Sales They buy one and a half times the number of CDs bought by non-streamies; Bertelsmann closes in on Napster; restructuring at MCA Nashville/Mercury Records; Sony Classical reactivates Odyssey imprint; country star John Anderson gets imprint from Koch; DeSoto drops back; and shock-jocks Opie & Anthony ousted
RIAA Sues ISPs-Then Drops It Offshore China provider enabled illegal downloads-then went offline; Cali's "seven-year statute" repeal proposal delayed; UMG to stay with VU for now; RealNetworks introduces all-formats media player; and "Soul Train" award show silliness
Big Growth for Digital Music To account for 17% of total music revenues by 2007; impasse between opponents in Cali's "seven-year rule" dispute; Quartararo to join EMI; Sony Music Nashville restructures; BMG Entertainment downloads through Liquid Audio; Tonos pacts with publishers; Music Choice picks Columbia artists for concert series; USA Network searches for country music "Idol"; Phish resurfaces; and farewell to Dave Williams and Michael Houser
Music Row Rumble Lewis adds Hinton's title to his resume; RIAA and AFTRA appeal Internet royalty rate structure; EMI Music sues AOL Time Warner; music sector singled out for drop in sales; Music Choice customizes music tv; Time Warner Cable and DirecTV promote Rhapsody; Arista DataPlays heavy hitters; Sony lays off 100; Beggars buys Matador; Koch catches Duck Down; and Retropolis buys Biograph
Interpol's Anti-Piracy Effort Launches new investigative unit; Congress proposes changes in Webcaster royalty rates; music file-sharers get spoofed; Bertelsmann's Middelhoff replaced by Thielen; Conroy promoted at AOL; Fat Possum ingests historic George Mitchell catalog; Artemis waives royalty fees for Webcasters; Listen.com offers custom Web radio stations; Sirius pacts with Sears; DMX relaunches Web site; Pressplay updates its service; Springsteen album sales spurred by limited edition; Bon Jovi and Iglesias play football; and touring acts take Sept. 11 night off
July 2002
Two Giants Fall Alan Lomax and Seymour Solomon die, also Marion Montgomery, "Little" Jimmy King, and Gud Dudgeon); Senate committee offers counterfeit protection; Webcasters decry RIAA downloading proposal; new boss for Ames; Maverick's Croshal to leave; Rough Trade America reforms with Wood at GM; Darkchild links with Cash Money; HOB pacts with Muze; DataPlay teams with RCA Label Group-Nashville; Virgin goes mobile with MTV; Weezer EP exclusive at indie retail; Destiny's Child settles suits; Mystikal's rape charge; and Earle back on the hot seat
Radio Appeals Stations don't want to pay Internet royalties; Congress goes after file-sharers; NARM fights exclusivity; Caparro to replace WEA's Yount; Benjamin clicks at UMG; Korn's label seeks demos; MSN links with Ticketmaster; Tonos secures artist-development deals; Muze samples Mann; FullAudio pacts with Koch; iPod goes Microsoft; P. Diddy and Liza get reality shows; Fat Joe gets booked; and r&b pioneer Rosco Gordon dies
Wacko Jacko Michael Jackson's latest outrage; U.S. record biz worst in 20 years; Hatch helps reissues; UMVD tests singles; UMG licenses to Emusic; IGA goes TiVo; Priority founder starts rap label; Knit Media buys Instinct; Koch distributes FUBU; Gateway teaches music tech; Mello Yello starts music site; Earthlink launches digital music center; Muze adds EMI; Liquid Audio opens Vault; and Sony Musiclub admits Pressplay and Rhapsody
FTC's Criticism Report says the music industry still isn't doing enough to protect teens; FTC also slaps UMG; Vivendi Universal's Messier resigns; Nickelback's Kroeger launches label; Sirius rolls out satellite radio service; CMT and Westwood One form radio network; Listen.com clears content from all five major labels; FullAudio pacts with Warner Music Group for portability; RealOne transfers to Sony; Game Boy gets MP3; and farewells to John Entwistle, Ray Brown, Rosemary Clooney, and Timothy White
June 2002
Webcast Rates Declared Librarian of Congress's decision is controversial; Senator proposes to stem radio consolidation; P. Diddy parts company with Arista; Epic embraces new MPEG4 streamings with Apple; MP3.com offers streams with e-mails; Circuit City cuts back on VHS; R. Kelly pleads not guilty and begs for hugs; Springsteen gets leaked; and Charlie Daniels is denied
Seven-Year Update California's personal services contract rule goes to the Assembly; record company and retailer price-fixing suits are nearing settlement; Wisconsin Senator proposes legislation affecting media consolidation; Lava Records expands into full-fledged label; MoS goes with MCA; Listen.com links with Sanctuary; FullAudio pacts with BMG; UMG and SME go with burnable commercial downloads; Dix Chix settle with Sony; King of Pop pops off against Sony; Toby Keith causes controversy; and Sir Mick Jagger
More Stats on Piracy Increases 50% in 2001; California labor group condemns music industry tactics; BMG buys Zomba; Retropolis catalog company bows; Lieberman lauds BMG's expanded stickering; Bertelsmann launches Web subscription fan club operation; Lycos distributes Rhapsody; Listen.com licenses from Zomba and TVT; Grokster tries direct marketing; BET Radio Network forms; Sharpton announces summit; Ratt's Robbin Crosby dies; and farewell to punk legend Dee Dee Ramone
Slow Global Music Growth Predicted Worldwide increase of only 1.6% projected through 2006; Napster files bankruptcy; IFPI seeks copy-protection stickers, while BMG expands its parental advisory stickering and broadens Star-Value midline; Phil Quartararo leaves WB; Billboard starts Hot Rap Tracks chart; NARM starts online employment center; RCA issues value-added Dave Matthews disc; R. Kelly charged with child porn; Michael Jackson wants to investigate the labels and get a new deal; Wyclef Jean arrested at a New York school rally; some of Courtney Love's charges are dropped; Alien Ant Farm tour canceled after bus crash; Lance Bass cleared for Russian space flight; and Lew Wasserman dies
May 2002
Eminem's Big Week Rush-released album tops the charts after one day; NARAS re-elects Fundis; Clear Channel counters trade groups; Audiogalaxy sued for infringement; Stones albums reissued in SACD format; Korn album kick-off in theaters; new Sony single from Dix Chix; and space is the place for Lance Bass
Napster Update Bertelsmann buys, execs return; Webcast royalty rates await Librarian's decision; Altnet teams with KaZaA; Maverick and VUNet download Ndegéocello; Rhapsody's revision; Peter Gabriel's Demand; Eminem's rush-release; helping Russia fight piracy; Geldof invests in e-tail; Mellencamp exits Columbia; and Springsteen exits senate race
Napster's End May Be Near File-swapper may declare bankruptcy; Sony pacts with Scour; Hatch to the rescue of out-of-print music; DataPlay to release Arista albums; Columbia House gets sold; EMI buys Mute; Dave Stewart launches Artist Network; Osbourne overkill; Springsteen for senate; and unlucky Luciano
Carey's Comeback Starts new label with Island/Def Jam; Stones announce last-or latest-tour; Locobazooka tour begins; rock 'n roll songwriter legend Otis Blackwell dies; RAC studies musicians healthcare; rock stays on top; and file-sharing software sites increase
Mike Greene's Exit Embattled Recording Academy chief quits; AFIM picks Proffitt; IBMA moves to Nashville; NARM supports singles; Interscope entices Eminem buyers; Judgment joins with RKO; No Name links with Elektra; EMI goes global; Liquid Audio burns it first; EMusic finds a Gateway; Webcasters go silent; Creed cancels tour; Michael Jackson is the prize; McCartney holds on to "Hey Jude"; and Lisa Lopes dies
April 2002
Koch Supports Coalition Biggest indie sides with RAC, whose battle with RIAA continues; congressmen counter royalty rate proposal; copyright industries account for 5.24% of U.S. GDP; slim offerings from sub services; nightmarish Dream Street; and Layne Stanley dies
Global Shipments Decline Down 5% in 2001; RAC counters RIAA; civil rights at issue in webcasting proposal; more lay-offs at Napster; FullAudio bows; Rhapsody burns; "Hip-Hop Nation" builds; MCA's Victory; Mammoth's defeat; Octone originates; Osborne gets Womanly Hip; B.I.G.'s family files suit; and Roth and Hagar join forces
Record Seizures RIAA anti-piracy efforts net record increases and big payments; RIAA and RAC try to settle "seven-year rule" dispute and team up with other groups in lobbying congress; Gateway campaigns for digital music; AOL Time Warner starts digital group; Warner Music Group licenses to FullAudio; Bertelsmann wants Napster; BMG tests copy-protection; Universal still tops U.S. distributors; Merlis launches Memphis label; no Lollapalooza this year; and no jail for Buck
New York Gets the Grammies Giuliani gone, Recording Academy returns to the Garden; Dutch KaZaA ruling may influence U.S. cases; RIAA and RAC seek "seven-year" compromise; Morgan Stanley buys into V2; Warner Bros. Nashville's Norman takes on Word, but the label loses Yoakam; AFTRA complains to FCC; and Megadeth dies
March 2002
Napster Update Napster has been granted access to some 800,000 pages of documentation regarding the major labels' designs for Internet music distribution. These documents are also part of a federal investigation into alleged antitrust actions by the majors in forming their MusicNet and Pressplay subscription services; their availability to Napster now only lengthens the labels' continuing copyright infringement case against Napster, which now looks to spill into 2003.
Big EMI Cutbacks 1,300 label people to be let go; compromise possible in California's seven-year statute controversy; changes suggested in CARP royalty proposal; VH1's Sykes moves to Infinity as McGrath moves up at MTV; Gersh starts new label; Listen.com pacts with Down Beat and Sub Pop; MSN channel to include Pressplay; RealNetworks pacts with Intel and Nokia; BMI facilitates wireless music delivery; MusicCity to encrypt files; R.E.M.'s Buck goes to trial; and Ramones top Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees
More Changes at the Top Rovner out at RCA, Foos resigns at Rhino; Hensler dies; bleak picture painted for NARM conventioneers, who favor copy-management over prevention; MusicCity label settles suit over encoded CDs; and Pennywise's Lindberg heads new Vans label
Grammy Declines Drops in ratings and sales…but big gains for "O Brother"; WIPO's WPPT ratified; Sony Scours, Warner Rhapsodizes; Tommy Boy splits from WMG; Landis named prez of Word; indie dealers fight major "exclusives"; O.J.'s rap; Ozzy's oddity; C-Murder charged in homicide; and farewell to Mark Vann and Harlan Howard
February 2002
O, Brother! Soundtrack's Grammy wins seen as a protest vote; RAC draws millions and RIAA opposition; CARP recommends direct payment; U.S. music business woes continue; Napster wins a round; and LeAnn Rimes makes up with Daddy
CARP's Suggestion Copyright Panel submits Webcasting fee structure; Napster goes back to court; Liquid Audio settles with Intouch; satellite radio companies sign up with ASCAP; Fuel caps Toyota; and Sweet's Mick Tucker dies
Digital Disappoints Legit sales total less than $1 million last year; Morpheus seeks licensing; FullAudio links with Windows Media; U.K.'s record year and forthcoming U.S. trade office; Asher appointed; EMI restructures; Marsalis Music bows; Sirius launches; Radio@AOL expands; and farewell to the great Dave Van Ronk and Waylon Jennings
Album Sales Decline Down 8% so far this year, with only Alan Jackson in the driver's seat; label personnel changes at EMI and Virgin; new labels from T Bone Burnett and the Coen Brothers, and Carson Daly; Island and MP3.com promote Toyota; Pressplay licenses Zomba, as doubts of subscription services' viability surface; U.K.'s "Top of the Pops" to cross the Atlantic; Super Bowl music blows; and James Blackwood dies
January 2002
Courtney Can Continue Judge rejects Universal move to block her "seven-year" statute suit; Napster copyright-infringement suit stalls; Pressplay licenses with BMI and TVT; RioPort readies sub service with file transfering capability; VU buys ring-tone supplier; RealNetworks and Microsoft reach beyond computer music playback market; AOL launches new music streaming service; Radio Free Virgin programs unsigned artists; RCA monitors album productions online; and Pete Bardens dies
Mariah No More Carey exits Virgin; Goldstein promoted at Verve; top artists rally against Cali's "seven-year statute"; legislators to tackle the statute and investigate payola and Clear Channel's behavior; MP3.com sues former law firm; and Peggy Lee dies
Botwin Takes Charge Named Columbia president; Kallman and Shapiro head Atlantic; Brown and DuBois bow Universal South; Napster bows new model; Listen.com licenses from BMG, EMI, and Sony; GM expands XM; RIAA lay-offs; Peggy Lee's class-action suit nets $4.75 million; and WSM-AM keeps it country
Grammies Vs. AMA's Clark and Jackson steal thunder from Greene; U2 tops Grammy noms; Carey's still signed; Crowes fly; Madonna banned; deaths in the family; Britney helps us read; Greenwald named prez at Island Def Jam; Universal is the top distributor; Internet jukeboxes pact with majors; and High Times for music
U.S. Album Sales Down 2001 drops 2.8% from 2000 total; Congress monitors subscription services; Recording Artists Coalition plans concerts; Compaq switches to RealOne Player; RioPort to rent downloads; and more woes for Mariah
December 2001
Artists Set to Challenge Sub Services Seek payment for digital music transmission as the subscription service era begins; Shaggy's "Hotshot" tops RIAA year-end list, while Billboard cites Beatles' "1" and Bessman picks Laura Nyro's "Angel In the Dark"; and U2 was the year's top touring act
Resignations Continue Caparro the latest to leave; VU pacts with EchoStar; London/Sire shuts down; Northeast liquidates; BMI pacts with Microsoft and Yahoo!, while Yahoo! restructures under Launch; EMusic licenses six indie labels; Grammy chieftain under fire from Dick Clark; Bowie starts own label; Sugar Hill Gang snips Snapple; Cobain's bandmates countersue Courtney; and farewell to Rufus Thomas, Stuart Adamson, and Betty Blowtorch
Bronfman Follows Levin UMG chief announces resignation a day after Levin; Pearce to leave V2; FTC renews attack on music industry; Napster licenses Matador; AOL tests MusicNet; Pressplay burns with Roxio; And Loud ringtones from Wu-Tang and Mobb Deep
George Harrison Beatle's death bigger than Levin's retirement; Nibley leaves GetMusic; NARM drops Sony suit; Atlantic, WMG, and Warner Bros. Nashville cut staffs; RealNetworks launches MusicNet subscription service while Listen.com launches Rhapsody; and Rymes re-signs, Wilco releases, and Church besieged
November 2001
Sony Plays Soccer Will release the "official" World Cup album; Schmidt resigns at restructured Bertelsmann e-commerce operations; EMusic licenses from Matador; Billboard licenses to Pressplay; RioPort readies subscription service; Warner buys Word; two top concert acts cut back for next year; and former La Bouche singer Melanie Thornton and two members of Passion Fruit perish in Swiss plane crash
Publishers Vs. Peer-to-Peer File class-action suit against "Napster-like" services; Aimster goes premium; profits a long way off for subscribers; CD copy-protection comes to UMG; lay-offs at EMI; and ringtones from Sony
Bad Year Blues Worst year ever predicted for global music industry, though opportunities still exist; Liquid Audio pacts with EMI, Listen.com with Harry Fox, and FullAudio with Universal; TVT settles with MP3.com; XM radio launches nationwide; McCartney cassette comes in cheap; Rucker finally lands a solo deal; and comments on Michael Jackson and the Taliban
Giving It Up for Michael Jacko debuts at No. 1; "O Brother" soundtrack scores CMA trophies; Napster links with Vitaminic; SoundExchange smooths the way for labels and artists; WMG licenses with Echo; and major labels do good deeds
Slayer Survives Found not responsible for teen fans' rape/murder; EMI's Dimont adds a title; cutbacks at MTV Networks; Listen.com links with indies; Yahoo!'s "ImVironments"; and crank calls
October 2001
Napster Loses and Gains Lays off staffers, but licenses to Bertelsmann; Audioglaxy upgrades blocking technology, while MusicNet and PressPlay continue preparing for lift-off; AOL launches radio service; another Berry gets picked at EMI; Universal's educational drive; and superstars turn out for Sept. 11 benefit concerts
Berry Out, Levy In Changes at EMI; Justice Department investigates online subscription services; NARM vs. RIAA in MOCA; NARM + AFIM at SF; Target cutting back CD singles; "Time-Out" at RealNetworks; On-demand streams at Amazon.com; Rhapsody streams Naxos; more tour cancellations; Jay-Z pleads guilty; and CMA's ad campaign
Labels and Publishers Pact for Online Services Pave the way for subscription services; free online music usage increases; Uplister goes down, but Listen.com rises; RIAA's anti-piracy activities surge; record company news; and Disturb-ing emails
Global Shipments Down Piracy and file-swapping cited; RIAA and MPAA team up against Napster-like sites; developing a digital "dictionary"; file-swapping increases; Pressplay gets EMI content; celebrity lawsuits; BMG layoffs; LoudEnergy's fee-based artist development service; and more terrorist attack fallout
September 2001
Napster Back On Top Denied "emergency stay," but achieves "landmark" settlement with
publishers and songwriters; music publishers score other victories; MusicNet and Pressplay
near subscription launch; more major label cutbacks; modified marketing plans respond to
terrorist attacks; more benefit projects to aid victims, while Limp Bizkit and Yoko Ono make
public pronouncements
Cancellations Continue Industry reeling from terrorist attacks, but pitches in to help with donations and benefit projects and events; Love leads the charge; "Yay" for "God Bless America"-"Nay" for "Imagine and 149 other songs; record company developments; and does anyone remember Napster?
September 11, 2001 Borrowing President Franklin D. Roosevelt's immortal words, a day that will live in infamy
Global Decline to Continue Decline in value of 1.7% predicted; Cali Senate committee considers controversial state statute; U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus discusses discrimination; Zomba settles with MP3.com; MuchMusic ties in with GetMusic for amateur videos, while fan-made audio remixes become popular promotional tools; and Beastie Boys close Grand Royal
August 2001
Amending the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Copyright Office proposes DMCA changes; portability cited as key to digital rights management success; Vivendi Universal finalizes MP3.com acquisition; witnesses added to Cali's Seven Year Statute hearing; ACLU wins one for the ravers; Dix Chix sue Sony; "O Brother"'s CMA nods; and Aaliyah's and Betty Everett's departures
U.S. Music Shipments Dip 4.4% down from first half of 2000; Ayeroff to Warner Bros.; hearings slated for Cali's Seven-Year Statute; indie publishers sue MP3.com; Pressplay readied for next month; Latin Grammys leave Miami; Artemis signs Crowe, Arista signs Boyz; Taj Mahal gets plaqued; and "coming together" for John Lennon
Whalley Reigns at Warner Bros Takes over as chairman/CEO; music websites show increasing usage; regulations may be in the future for subscription services; GetMusic gets new features; NMPA reports $6.57 billion in global publishing revenues; Neil Cooper
Music Business Presses Napster Seeks summary judgment to skirt trial, while the file-swapper names new CEO; Feds move to preserve and determine streaming royalties, and act to encourage competition among online music services; online music retail to surpass $6.2 billion by 2006; and make that $100 million for Whitney
MTV's Unbearable Birthday Self-serving station turns 20; Carey goes crazy; Whitney to win $50 million; B-Boy's extended rehab; David Byrne's Windows Media Player burn; MTV.com relaunches; Sony Corp. pacts with Yahoo!; BMG's cloaking device; Nickelodeon and Jive shucks Nick; and in memoriam
July 2001
Morissette Plugs In Speaks at digital music conference, where subscription services take center stage; AOL to start streaming; Napster's new head; NARM and RIAA increasing their public profiles; Island takes half of Roadrunner; Maverick's cutbacks; and a broad range of artist developments
Napster Surprise Appeals court allows relaunch, while Metallica and Dr. Dre settle; EMI licenses to FullAudio, while Pressplay pacts with Microsoft; RIAA settles with MusicMatch; Scour readies Webcasts; Wilco woeful; Dixie Chicks nix Sony deal; Britney boasts while J-Lo bleats
Napster Stays Shut Judge orders full filtering of copyrighted material; Liquid Audio joins subscription game; Microsoft makes MP3 easier;
Universal in the lead; BMG cutting staffers, appointing executives; Backstreet Boy in rehab; Hootie's solo hindered; Beach Boy bummer;
and Ernie K-Doe dies
Music Sales Stall Down 5.5%; songwriters/publishers take aim at Aimster while Japanese labels confront Napster; Yahoo buys Launch; Nashville songwriters act against karaoke supplier; Courtney fights over Cobain composition; Denise Rich's shameless song; and remembering three departed greats
June 2001
Napster Update Loses appeal, gains European indie labels; AOL sues Aimster, is itself sued over "unclean" Trick Daddy album; publishing agreement; Island Def Jam to buy half of American Recordings, and promotes via VH1; Disney Records president Bach retires; XM Satellite Radio to host MTV and VH1 channels; FullAudio sub service licenses EMI Publishing catalog; and film industry's "windowing" distribution model proposed for the music industry
Radio's Return to the Web Stations resume simulcasts; Launch relaunches; RealNetworks introduces digital rights management; MP3.com's mistrial and new premium service; Universal completes EMusic buyout; BMG appoints Smellie; Hip-Hop leaders plan positive actions while country stars declare independence; and more honors for Michael Jackson
Increasing Global Piracy One out of three recordings are affected; Michigan music company charges over 800 with copyright infringement; RIAA fights back DiMA, fends off NARM; Duet begets Pressplay; executive shake-ups; Lyric Street markets Skaggs' labels; "O Brother" comes to Carnegie Hall; and a Virgin wants babies
MusicNet Nabs Napster Subscription platform to supply major label music to the evolving file-swapper; RIAA and SDMI sued by disgruntled code-breaking college professor; DiMA wants statutory licensing of interactive webcasts; Rykodisc is sold, ARTISTdirect Records is readied; RioPort supplies BestBuy.com; and Shyne gets 10 years
May 2001
More Major Label Buyouts Bertelsmann acquires Myplay, and decides to share MP3.com settlement money with all its artists; MP3.com and labels face opposition from songwriters and publishers; RIAA sues Aimster and Launch; Earthlink launches Web radio stations; and Gene Simmons goes to Court TV
Vivendi Universal Gobbles MP3.com Corporate acquisition continues the shift from online independence to major label control-piquing congressional concern; feds also hear industry arguments on compulsory licensing; SDMI can't make up its minds; Trio offers MTV alternative; and Britney breaks new ground
RealNetworks Bundles Software company ties in with Sony and Nokia; songwriters and publishers get the short end of the stick; satellite radio comes to the new Country Music Hall of Fame; and remembering Perry Como
Napster Declines, Competition Rises No let-up in demand for free music; Songbird traps Napster; Aimster sues RIAA; RIAA teams with NARM; Bandit Records bows; ARTISTdirect to start a label; major artists sue MP3.com; and encouraging words from the RAC excecutive director
EMG-BMG Merger Plan Fails Regulations and label sale get in the way; Senators rail against RIAA; RIAA teams with BMG in combating piracy; Napster's successful filtration; Instant-messaging promotions; Berman exits Buena Vista; Atlantic exits Nashville; and CMA's idiotic slogan
April 2001
FTC Again Lambastes the Music Industry for Marketing Violence to Kids New report cites failure to respond to suggested remedies; New York state Senate seeks to control hate songs; global music sales decline; new filters for Napster; Artists Against Piracy merges with Recording Artist Coalition; UMG absorbs GetMusic and Farmclub; Radio streamings increase; and "O Brother" to tour
Death of a Giant Joey Ramone's exit dwarfs everything else; Radio broadcasters return to the Web; Liquid Audio inks deals with indie labels; Napster appeals
Yahoo's Duet Portal pacts with Universal and Sony; Universal buys EMusic; Musicbank locked up; Napster buys Gigabeat; Radio streamings dry; Songwriters strike CMT; and MTV sucks
More Napster Hearings File-swapper seeks justice; majors pact with RealNetworks; RIAA cancels lunch; MTVi to sell downloads; Microsoft to stream; Field to head ARTISTdirect; and big money for Mariah
March 2001
New Technology to Fight Duplication MediaCloQ clocks in; Napster's compliance is challenged-and monitored; new president at Capitol, more layoffs at Warner Music Group; AOL Time Warner plans a new music tv channel; and Courtney's complaint
New Formats To Test Consumers DataPlay and DVD Audio add to customer confusion; MP3.com to charge artists for potential royalty payments; Listen.com adds radio networks; Amazon.com adds virtual tipping; record labels develop game theory; Madonna on the run
Napster Dominates NARM Convention Retailers hear of Napster damages - and benefits - and the saving grace of DVD Audio; RIAA charges Napster with stalling, Zappa charges EMusic, and Courtney charges Universal; and the 365 "Most Significant" songs
Napster Continues to Dominate Headlines Injunction issued while the Recording Academy and EMusic pile on; TVT beats MP3.com; and Michael Jackson speaks at Oxford
God Bless Americana Roots format can save country music; Warner Bros. chief quits; rampant bootlegging; Napster's fall lifts EMusic
February 2001
Beat-up Napster Tries to Rebound But it's billion-dollar settlement offer is scoffed at; the Eminem and Elton show-hopefully one-night only
LeAnn's Lament Rimes reams; Interscope founder flees; Koch aids artist-owned labels; MP3.com aids artists; ASCAP cops the Beatles
More MTV Stupidity Burned boy draws political fire-and potential legislation; TVT teams with Napster, with fees to be forthcoming; Broadcasters and Garbage seek court relief
January 2001
Fooled Again! Bush inaugural lies; AOL-Time Warner lay-offs; Virgin's Nashville shut-down; Copyright issues confront the U.K.; Blues for Chicago blues
A Big Merge Approval for AOL-Time Warner; Good news for Napster; Big increases for MP3 players and album sales; Continuing protests against Eminem-and Ricky Martin
Big Eminem Backlash Protests against his Grammy nominations; BMG gets a new president, while Asylum loses one; Sen. Hatch sides with the new media
It's Grammy Time! Nominations are announced-for those who care; Rod Stewart's deserved award; Courtney's complaint; MP3.com's and Napster's expansion; a college course in music publicity; a new record company position
December 2000
BMG Tragedy President/CEO dies suddenly; underscoring the importance of copyright; the year's biggest and best
Another Monster is Born AOL-Time Warner merger okayed, while Best Buy buys Musicland in forming the biggest music retail group; MP3.com again under fire; Sirs Paul and Elton pitch in to fight copyright infringement, while Metallica smells something rotten; Roger Waters' bright-shining candle
A Monster is Born Vivendi Universal is created; more locker services; radio royalties; Rage apologizes; Scour acquired; "Charlie's Angels" vs. Doggy's Angels; John Lennon remembered
MP3.com Returns MyMP3.com relaunches; 'N Sync sued; Sirius orbits; Rosebud goes solar; the Coen Brothers' "Odyssey"
November 2000
SoundExchange Bows New means of collecting digital royalties; EMusic crawls the Web, Bowie trawls the Web, and 'N Sync scams the Web
MP3.com Wins One-May Lose Four Licenses an indie, but could pay millions more to the majors; EMI to move to N.Y.; an exciting new Nashville label
Last Major Settles with MP3.com Universal nets millions, with half going to artists; Napster's "evolution," more Web radio, and Ozzy to the rescue
BMG Shakeup E-commerce the cause, while Viacom wins a BET, eBay bootlegs, Eagles peak, Beatles web, Senate makes history
Surprise Wedding For Napster! Bertelsmann's the groom! Clinton repeals "work for hire" bill, Sony licenses to Musicbank
October 2000
Friends in unexpected places Key Republican Senator sides with artists, the RIAA wants digital royalties, and Chuck D welcomes "inties"
Correcting a mistake The Senate acts, the RIAA's digital bar coding, MP3.com's rebound, Scour sours, Madonna gets her name back, and the airline's gospel.
All majors online BMG downloads while Arista DVD's; 2 new labels launch while 2 major artists make news.
It starts with a song Reflecting on Napster while digital distribution gains, DVD Audio increases, and EMI and Time Warner terminate.
September 2000
Little Guy Scores Artists unite to repeal the "Work for Hire" law, MP3.com troubles, Eminem's new single, Offspring's cave-in
McCain's Rescue Sober thoughts on censorship, the costs of free music, Nashville becomes National, and personal polka pride.
A Humble Confession Feeble attempts at humor, serious attempts at curbing violence, and more bad news for digital copyright infringers.
Clive Returns Davis's new gig, ClickRadio delivers, and an unrewarding awards show...
August 2000
Hypocrisy Revealed! Napster's double-standard, MP3.com's fourth major settlement...
Remembering The Departed Sony lays off 500, Capitol Nashville's president goes the way of Garth.
Get Ready for Better Radio Digital and satellite radio services offer alternatives to commercial stations, and a Supreme failure.
Music - Its Not Just For Kids A Nashville website targets adults, while a music industry convention targets Napster.
Media giant Vivendi buys owner of Universal Vivendi purchases Canadian liquor and entertainment group Seagram - which owns the Universal Music Group - in a deal likened to the Time Warner/AOL merger.
June 2000
Old Meets New Traditional country music hits the web with a new high-tech backdrop. And, of course, more on Napster.
The First Great Battle of the Internet Century The Napster-fuelled intellectual property debate continues with conflicting views from Neil Young and Dr Dre.
Work for Hire The Record Industry attempts to change the status of artists' recording's through the back door.
May 2000
It All Starts with a Song Jim Bessman examines the issue of digital copyright, licensing and musicians rights.
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