iTunes Gets Competitive As Digital Sales Growth Slows

As reported yesterday in @MusicRow, the iTunes Store is now offering DRM-free music from all four major labels—Universal, Sony, Warner, and EMI—as well as thousands of independent labels. The move will please consumers because downloads without copy protection software are interoperable with a variety of programs and devices. However, today’s (1/7/09) Wall Street Journal suggests […]

Country On Tomorrow’s People’s Choice Awards

Many country artists are among the nominees at tomorrow night’s (1/7) People’s Choice Awards. In the all-genre categories, Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney are up for Favorite Male Singer against R&B star Chris Brown; Carrie Underwood will vie for Favorite Female Singer; and Rascal Flatts is nominated in the Favorite Group slot. Elsewhere, Underwood (“Last […]

Lady A To Perform New Single on Conan

Lady Antebellum will debut its upcoming single, “I Run To You,” this Thurs., Jan. 8 on NBC’s Late Night With Conan O’Brien. It is the third single from the band’s debut album, which has also spawned hits “Love Don’t Live Here” and “Looking For A Good Time.” The single will be available for airplay at […]

Country 2008: A Year End Report

The country music record business was especially hard hit as the previous year’s drop of 16.3% rose to 24% in 2008. Actual country album sales (physical and digital) toppled from 62.7 to 47.6 million, a new all time low under the SoundScan era. Country 2008: A Year End Report asks questions and presents much of […]

Nashville-Related Music Obituaries, 2008

The loss of two Country Music Hall of Fame members in 2008 was a major blow to the Nashville music community. But we lost many other friends as well. Here is a look back at those who passed away during 2008. VERNON DERRICK, 74, died Jan. 4. Multi-instrumentalist sideman for The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, […]

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