pirate bay

• Italian music site Roccatune, formerly Adtunes, inked a deal with Warner Music Group.

• Apple is said to be negotiating deals with major labels that will expand the variety of ringtones and other mobile features available for the iPhone. (NY Times Bit blog)

• For some reason, Twitter hasn’t yet taken the tech journalist community by storm | Charlie Cooper CNET

• U2 has signed a 12-year deal with Live Nation for its merchandise, digital rights and branding. A big deal, yes, but not as sexy as the $120 million deal Madonna signed with Live Nation. That one included recorded music. (The Guardian)

You know, sometimes there’s so much weirdness running through my brain that I’d love to share it all with you, but I don’t even know where to begin. It’s at these times that another You Tube find seems appropriate.

• A report says two major labels have been served notice of a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation regarding the (not even launched) TotalMusic music subscription service. (The Register)

Leon McDermott's article on the music industry in the Sunday Herald is worth reading mainly because it takes a rarely seen -- and I believe correct -- view of the music industry's downturn. And he has a rare optimism on the state of record labels.

• Rykodisc is turning 25 this year, and to celebrate will give away five free downloads a month from its website. (Press release)

• NPD Group has found that 70% of tweens (ages 9 to 14) are downloading music: 49% use iTunes, 26% use LimeWire and 16% use MySpace. (Press rele

• The Financial Times talks about the "restrained tone" at MIDEM. A quote: "Maybe it can be laid at the door of EMI. When Guy Hands of Terra Firma first gained entrance to the venerable institution, he declared it a mountain of waste. The light that was shone on EMI’s excesses may have reflected badly on the other major labels.