Big News……

Viacom Sues Google For A Billion…

Media conglomerate Viacom said it filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Google and video sharing site YouTube over unauthorized use of its copyrighted entertainment.
The suit accuses Google and YouTube of “massive intentional copyright infringement” of Viacom’s entertainment assets and seeks an injunction against further violations.
Viacom contends that almost 160,000 unauthorized clips of its programming have been uploaded onto YouTube’s site and viewed more than 1.5 billion times.

Label news…………

According to sources a list of Australian bands have been let go from Capitol Records including Airbourne and the Vines who failed to deliver records that resonated with the public.

Unless you sold half a million copies of your last record for Capitol, you’re probably gone,” one source said

Other artists that are rumored to have been released are Dandy Warhols, Ima Robot, and Melissa Auf Der Maur.

Some good news for Indie Artists on Indie Labels…

Radio broadcasters are going to give indie bands some play time. I can’t say indie music is better than mainstream pop but at least it breaks up the playlist a bit. In my opinion, hearing the same songs over and over is closer to hell than hearing a really bad indie song. Four major radio broadcast companies have tentatively agreed to pay the government $12.5 million and provide 8,400 half-hour segments of free airtime for independent record labels and local artists in separate agreements in attempt to curb “PAYOLA”.

In other Myspace news……

MySpace is set to launch its own news service that will allow users to comment on and rate stories that they post on their personal pages

Last bit of Miscellaneous news…..

Paris Hilton  talking about her CD.
People go crazy (when they hear it). They love it. Everyone’s like ‘Who’s this?’”
Paris adds, “I, like, cry, when I listen to it, it’s so good.”

KOAR is crying too..

The singing sensation Paris Hilton is to be dropped by her record label Warner Brothers within the next few weeks. Her record sold a mere 185,000 copies in the United States.

Starbucks is planning to launch its own record label as soon as this week. Starbucks is also close to a deal for the next album from former Beatle Paul McCartney to be its first release, according to sources familiar with the plans. Paul McCartney is a free agent not signed to any label, sources said.

Starbucks Records is expected sign, record and produce its own artists rather than licensing songs from other labels.

Up until now, Starbucks has only distributed music though its retail coffee shops. But it is believed that Starbucks Records will seek to secure distribution for its releases in other retail outlets.

Also, Starbucks has enough licensing deals in place with major and independent record labels to build its own digital-music store a la Apple’s iTunes, or it could bring in a partner to help build the digital infrastructure.

There have been talks about putting kiosks in its shops so that customers can shop for music and create their own compilations while waiting for their $5 cup of joe.

Who would ever thought 10 YEARS AGO that a coffee franchise would be signing a BEATLE? Lets look at the starbucks facts. The caffein pusher has built coffeehouses all over the world, 7,102 company-operated outlets worldwide: 5,668 of them in the United States. Now that is a RETAIL outlet. It beats FYE. Starbucks has the demographic and the presence. Now thats a solution.

• Music labels and Universal Music Group have filed suit against Yahoo China over illegal downloading.

• Publishing Vice Chairman has exited the struggling EMI.

• Many students don’t get why the recording industry is after them. As the music biz targets students at Ohio University as well as other college students for illegally sharing and downloading music, many students still don’t see anything wrong with sharing copyrighted music files.

and………

record companies are offering to settle with college students accused of illegally downloading songs, asking for payments of as much as $5,000 to avoid court.

The Recording Industry Association of America sent 400 “pre-litigation letters” this week to 13 U.S. universities, asking them to inform copyright violators they have 20 days to settle with music companies or meet them in court.

• Los Angeles based Latin/Ska/Reggae band Upground have signed to Peer MusicPublishing; Legal rep is Ben McLane and Mgmt is Stephanie Mercada.

• Check out pop act Holiday Parade who hails from Atlanta Georgia

• Straylight Run who ended their contractual obligations to Victory Records has now signed to Universal Republic Records. They released their self titled debut album in 2004 which sold over 11,000 copies in the first week, and made the Billboard Top 100 Albums list.

• Courtney Love sued over unpaid $180,000 drug rehab bill. Kurt Cobain had a better taste in music than he did in love. Love spent all his money.

Hype Alert…………………………………………………..

Indie media darlings the Gossip have signed to Columbia’s music imprint Music with a Twist. The buzz of the day spreads fast across the internet. Are they going to Hollywood? or does the Gossip stay in indie land? Something doesn’t add up. KOAR says no Hollywood but possibly Disney Land.

SXSW – 2007

It’s another go around for KOAR at SXSW. Finding ‘New’ potential great artists can be challenging during this 5 day fiasco, but KOAR does its best. SXSW seems to be more popular than ever in the dying daze of the music business. I guess this means people who are inside the music biz or outside like to party, network and schmooze.

Meet some of the faces behind KOAR:
KOAR will be attending SXSW and will be talking on the Demo Listening Panel (4 Room 19A) Thursday, March 15th. 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm.

Program The Dead will be playing March 15th at Guero’s 5 pm.

Another panel to check out is ‘Making Hit Records‘ (March 17th) that includes A&R guys and producers including producer/mixer David Bendeth (Breaking Benjamin, Hawthorne Heights, Red Jump Suit), Brian Howes (Hinder), A&R Craig Aaronson (My Chemical Romance, HIM) among others.

Check out the BMI Showcase March 15th at Club Deville. Artists include Miracle Druge, The Envy Corps, among others.

In other news…

Metal Maniacs OTEP were handed the axe and apparently were the first victims of the Capitol and Virgin Merger. Check out the alternative act 650 North who hails from Indiana. Former Cold front man Scooter Ward has inked a deal with I Am: Wolfpack Records which is owned by producer Ross Robinson. Lastly, KOAR recently posted emerging artist Coleen Mcmahon, if you haven’t noticed this Oregonian has a legion of cultish fans. You will hear a lot about Coleen within the next year.

KOAR has talked about alternative rock act God or Julie in Higher Learning. They are currently finishing up their new CD “This Road Before”. They just got off the Van Wilder Tour playing with Everclear. The bands new guitarist Matt Hogan replaced Aaron Johnson who co-produced The Fray CD. Check out the new track Being Human.

Check out the video “Say Your Last GoodBye” on YouTube and the new tracks

For more information contact Bill McGathy or Michael Iurato.

Performing tonight at Arlene’s Grocery in NYC show on Wed March 7th 10PM.