Yesterday Sweden’s Supreme Court announced its decision not to grant leave to appeal in the long-running Pirate Bay criminal trial. This means that the previously determined jail sentences and fines handed out to Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm and Carl Lundström will stand. They were ordered to pay increased damages amounting to millions of dollars. Hoping to overturn the ruling, the three filed for a hearing of their case at the Supreme Court. Yesterday this request was denied (IDG Pirate Bay announcement), meaning that the sentences as determined by the Court of Appeal are now final. Peter Sunde now awaits 8 months in prison, Fredrik Neij faces 10 months and Carl Lundström has the lightest sentence of 4 months. All will have to pay their share of a combined 46 million kronor ($6.8 million) in damages.
Midem just started and here are a couple of prepared announcements that are coming up this weekend. LyricFind is planning to showcase a global licensing group that now includes EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing and Sony/ATV Music Publishing. That comes on top of thousands of other pub-focused deals, including a large number of indie agreements. Lyricfind says in their announcement: “we have signed worldwide lyrics distribution agreements with all four majors publishers, and some key indies. We’re the first in the world to have complete global rights from all the majors. Using these deals, we’re immediately expanding our coverage to 20 territories, with more to be added in the future as needs require.”
RealNetworks has just sold a massive IP portfolio to Intel, though the deal also allows RealNetworks to continue to employ the intellectual property. The deal, which involves hundreds of patents, was valued at roughly $120 million.
Also at Midem, the Future of Music Coaltion is planning to unveil the results of its longtime research project on artist revenue sources. It’s part of Midem’s ‘Visionary Monday’.
Stones Throw Records has just launched a label-focused subscription service, a collaboration with Drip.fm.
Universal Music UK has just named David Sharpe as its new CCO.
PRS for Music has revealed it has now generated more than £1 million in royalties through its Independent Music Publishers’ European Licensing Initiative. IMPEL was launched in 2010 and works on behalf of music publishers to directly licenses mechanical rights for Anglo-American repertoire for online and mobile use both to existing pan-European digital services and those newly launching. Imagem has become the latest “Friend of IMPEL”, following Peermusic and BMG Chrysalis. Direct members of the service include Bucks, Fintage, Moncur Street Music, RZO and Fintage, while this month has seen the addition of Eagle-I Music and Spirit, the first US-based publisher to join up. There are pan-European licensing deals with companies including 7digital, Spotify, Amazon, Apple iTunes and Research in Motion, while PRS for Music recently announced a licensing deal with Apple for its cloud-based music services.
Between his work on “American Idol,” “Britain’s Got Talent” and “The X Factor,” Simon Cowell has been harvesting pop stars and helping talents such as Kelly Clarkson, and Leona Lewis. Now Cowell is ready for a new adventure. Syco Entertainment has announced a partnership with Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment to develop a live, international TV show dedicated to finding the world’s next great DJ.
Two days after protesters staged a massive online blackout to protest the House of Representatives’ Stop Online Piracy Act, the Texas Congressman who proposed the bill withdrew the measure from consideration. In a statement, Rep. Lamar Alexander, announced that he was postponing consideration of the bill in light of concerns from critics who said it could lead to censorship of the Internet. Alexander’s action came after more than 115,000 sites participated in Wednesday’s protest and Congressional support for the act. The White house had already gone on record as not supporting the bills as currently written, saying that while it shares Congress’ concerns about online piracy, it will not sign off on legislation that “reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovated global Internet.”
Driven by the rising popularity of download and streaming, Warner Music experienced a growth of 36,4% in digital revenue by the end of 2011. The total turnover generated by digital services was $205 million. Interestingly, streaming services accounted for a turnover of $15 million. Streaming music services like Spotify may well be among the main contributors to the digital revenue growth of WMG.
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