EMI removes Radiohead Ad: The saga between Radiohead and EMI continue when the band’s former label removed a misleading ad for the group’s back catalogue from the internet.

Anyone typing in Radiohead into Google would see an ad at the top of the search results reading: “Radiohead – New Album ‘Rainbow’ now available as boxset”.

The ad was not directed the “discbox” edition of In Rainbows but to a website where EMI subsidiary Parlophone is selling a box-set of the seven albums Radiohead recorded while they were still signed to the label.

Its been said that EMI is trying to compete with its former charges’ independent release. While EMI has denied this, the ad (visible in a screengrab from Friday, above) raises new questions about the label’s
motives. (The Guardian)

Are Games More Relevant Than Radio? Guitar Hero III sold over $115 million in its first week, making it the best launch in the company’s history. Not only is Guitar Hero popular among gamers but it also exposes new music. For instance, Roadrunner Records said that sales of Dragon Force’s album “Inhuman Rampage” increased 126% week-on-week in the wake of Guitar Hero III’s release. Slipknot, another Roadrunner artist featured in the game, also saw its album sales increase. EA’s Steve Schnur asserted that games were now more relevant than radio when it comes to promoting new music.

According the NY Post, Terra Firma CEO Guy Hands is telling prospective partners that they can nearly quadruple their money in the struggling major label and cash out within five years.

Terra Firma plans to improve its EMI investment by cutting costs…

The cost cutting includes reducing A&R and marketing costs by 58 million by using social networks and user generated web sites like Myspace to discover and promote talent, cut $31 million in sales and distribution, and improve the recorded music businesses’ cash flow by driving over $700 million in from
online and mobile music. Terra Firma also has $100 million set aside for purchases of small indie labels. (NY Post)

360 Deals: Major music companies are offering the highly debated 360 deals to new artists. Artists will share touring and merchandising profits in return for more career support from the label. Check out the New York Times article ‘The New Deal: Band as Brand’. Jeff Leeds discusses the success of Paramore.

The Saga continues between Prince and his Fans: Last week Prince and his lawyers sent out legal letters to ‘Prince’ fan sites asking them for compensation for using photos without permission. Now the pop diva has posted a funk jam in retaliation to his fans that set up ‘Prince Fans United‘. Prince proclaims in his jingle ‘ “I don’t care what people may say, I ain’t gonna let it ruin my day.” American Idol judge Simon Cowell called Prince selfish and disrespectful. I couldn’t agree more, also, the dude seems bored.

We don’t particularly care, but you can view the original choreography for Britney Spears’ performance of Gimme More” that has founds its place on the blogosphere.

New Music: You can stream a new track from indie rock band Hello Vegas. Also listen to the track ‘My Tongue is Tied‘.

The new Duran Duran album ‘Red Carpet Massacre’ can now be streamed. Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon wanted a hit record and top 40 radio play. ‘We wanted to get played on U.S. Top 40 radio, and it seemed that the most direct route was to exercise our funk muscle. So we said, “Right, let’s get Timbaland.” What passionless statement. My goodness! Many artists today have no shame. Duran Duran should have took a vacation on a remote island and wrote a real record because the new stuff isn’t nearly as good as Rio and save a Prayer. The hardwork and effort was all done in vain!

Signings: Republic Universal rock artist Fair to Midland have signed a co-publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music. Sounds Under Radio who appeared on Spiderman 3 sountrack signed to Epic Records.

Google in Talks with Simon Fuller: More people are watching TV on-line since new technology is allowing users to download video footage. PCs will eventually merge with TV sets, and the biggest companies, including Microsoft, Apple and Google will enter the market. Google is already talking to Simon Fuller the creator of Pop Idol and American Idol about a joint venture that could change the way TV is watched over the internet. (Guardian)

Myspace has been inflicted with the biggest and most damaging virus to date. This new viral scam targets the younger users, and promises victims a free $500 Macy’s gift card. The headlines include “Hey dude, check it out! You ain’t gunna believe this!” or “i’m just hittin you up, as a friend, to fill you in on this exclusive deal to get a FREE $500 Macy’s Gift Card, yes, FREE!

The viral scam, which targets the site’s younger users, promises victims a free $500 Macy’s gift card. The spam scam steals the user MySpace identity and friends e-mails and posts comments on their profiles.

“It is an epidemic on MySpace,” PC Magazine Executive Editor Jeremy Kaplan . “It is a big problem particularly because of the pervasiveness of MySpace. Kaplan says he doesn’t think MySpace has done much to help solve the problem.

Alicia Keys’ Myspace page was recently hacked. Check out this video that shows how these viral spams incorporate malicious codes.

The Bottom Line: More and more artists are frustrated over Myspace and its ability to perform simple tasks. Updating the touring schedule, writing blogs, and communicating with fans can be a headache. Attacks on Myspace are rising as well as programs invented by thieves that allows users to steal songs on the Myspace music player. The techs at Myspace will be busy for a long time…

Both Jimmy Eat World’s and Motion City Soundtracks scheduled TV appearences have been canceled due to the Writers Guild of America strike.

Avenged Sevenfold’s new self titled disc debuted at number four on the Billboard Top 200 selling 93K records. This is Huge. The First single “Almost Easy” is in the Top 10 at Active Rock and Top 20 at Alternative.

Seattle grunge act Candlebox signed deal with the label Silent Majority Group that is distributed by Warner and Making April negotiated a deal with Republic/Universal.

Tool’s frontman Maynard Keenan’s Puscifer project sold 27,000 copies its first week. Target banned the album because of the controversial artwork.
Maynard also provides us with an entertaining rant on a myspace blog…

1 on the Billboard INDIE chart.
25 on the Billboard top 200

No Major label budget.
No Major label $300,000 Bus bench/poster/billboard marketing campaign.
No overpriced full page ad in every silly magazine ever printed
No Promotions Dept Payola hand jobs.
No shove it down your throat anything.

just 100% street level, viral, word of mouth support.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.