music week

In a perfect world (from the artist point of view) bands would sell only albums. More revenue than what they get from unbundled albums. But that's not how the world works any longer.

• Tennessee's college anti-piracy law will cost $13 million in the first year and about $2 million thereafter. (Ars Technica)

• The "Twilight" soundtrack took over the #1 spot on the album chart with first-week sales of 165,000. Total unit sales were 7.02 million, up 1% sequentially and down 29% from the same week in 2007. (Billboard.biz)

• AC/DC's Black Ice dropped 65% in its second week but held on to the #1 spot on the album chart. Unit sales last week were 6.96 million units, down 1.7% from the previous week and down 25% from same week in 2007. (Billboard.biz)

• Sony has introduced a new audio format, the Blu-spec CD. It combines Sony's Sony's Blu-ray Disc technology with the ability to play on standard CD players. Sixty titles are initially available on the format. The press release was released in Japan and there is no indication which territories will have the product.

It looks like 2009 will be the year of download binging. Services providing either unlimited access (Comes With Music) or inexpensive, bulk downloads (music pre-loaded onto Dell computers) show labels are seeking new ways to engage music fans who want more than an occasional song.

• The MCPS-PRS has predicted UK songwriter royalties from concerts and music aired in public places will exceed royalties from CDs for the first time this year. (BBC News)

• Facebook is said to be mulling a major music play, talking to major labels and talking to service providers such as Rhapsody and iMeem. The article emphasized nothing definite is planned and Facebook could easily end its exploratory efforts. (New York Post)

As of today, I'm a former reader of the Music Week website. Amidst changes to the print publication and a redesign of the website, articles have been hidden behind a subscription wall. Not just its charts and features are inaccessible. The previously accessible short daily news bites are behind a subscription wall.

• Eight music industry groups, including BPI and MCPS-PRS Alliance, are joining together under a new umbrella organization called UKMusic. The new group replaces the British Music Rights trade group. (Music Week)