Where is My Money? Major Music Labels negotiated in copyright-infringement settlements with a host of Web sites, but artists and managers have not seen a cent yet. For instance, Napster had to cough up $270 million and YouTube paid a hefty sum, but the money never trickled down to artists. Managers are considering legal options and are talking about filing lawsuits if they don’t get paid soon.”

“They will play hide and seek, but eventually will be forced to pay something,” Azoff said. “The record companies have even tried to credit unrecouped accounts. It’s never easy for an artist to get paid their fair share.”

The Long Tail or the Wrong Tail? Check out Chris Castles blog on Chris Anderson who coined the phrase, “The Long Tail”, and who is currently working on a new book entitled Free, which examines the rise of pricing models which give products and services to customers for free.

NIN Release: Nine Inch Nails presents Ghosts I – IV, a brand new 36 track instrumental collection available online. Almost two hours of new music composed and recorded over an intense ten week period last fall, Ghosts I – IV sprawls Nine Inch Nails across a variety of new terrain. Trent Reznor explains, “I’ve been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn’t have made sense until this point.

UMG Strikes European Deal For Jonas Brothers: Universal Music Group has licensed the Jonas Brothers’ album from Hollywood Records for distribution in Europe. UMG also has distribution rights for “Jonas Brothers” in Canada and Latin America. EMI Music, missed the chance to extend on its current international distribution deal for the album. “Someone within the old (EMI) management chose not to pick up the option,” says an EMI source. “I don’t know why they wouldn’t.”

Wal-Mart stirs CD pricing pot with multi-tiered plan: Wal-Mart, the largest retailer of music has proposed a five-tiered pricing scheme that would allow the discounter to sell albums at even lower prices and require the labels to bear more of the costs according to Reuters.

Wal-Mart Proposed Pricing Structure….

top 15 to 20 hottest titles – $10.00
top catalog – $9.00
midline catalog – $7.00
budget product – $5.00

Apple and Artist news: Paramore will be featured on the new ipod touch commercial.

The Buzz: The track Thick Wit It by hip hop artist Hakeem Tha Dream is being spun on St. Louis urban radio stations WHHL and KATZ. The track garnered a total of 95 spins between both stations last week. It’s popping on the radar among some major music labels with A&R research departments. For more information email here.

Artist Updates: Camera Can’t Lie have just completed 4 brand new tracks with producer Jordan Schmidt whose recent credits include working with All Time Low, Cute Is What We Aim For, and Panic At The Disco. The tracks will be posted on KOAR shortly.

Recommended Listening: Check out San Diego alternative act
My American Heart. The band released a full length disc titled ‘Hiding Inside the Horrible Weather’ in 2007 through indie label Warcon Records. They have a slew of tour dates and will be on the road through May. Check out the track The Shake and Tired and Uninspired.