Earlier this year, Universal Music Group big-cheese Doug Morris opted against a new 2-year contract with iTunes, and instead has a rolling month-to-month contract with Apple.  According to a report today in BusinessWeek, the UMG is gearing up to launch an iTunes competing service of their own to be named “Total Music”.   BMG Music have also thrown their name into the program and is having talks with Warner Music Group. Together the three companies music giants would have control of over 70% of all the music sold in the U.S., with Apple iTunes currently holding control of over 70% of the music sold online in the U.S.The new Total Music service would be looking to hook up with direct iPod competitors as well, such as Microsoft’s Zune player, mobile phone carriers and game consoles looking to work themselves into more a part of total home entertainment.

From PC World’s news report:

The plan is to get hardware makers to absorb the cost of a $5 monthly subscription, so that consumers would get their music essentially for free when they buy a new player, and the hardware industry would be compensated by selling many more devices.

“You know that [the subsctiption is] there, and it costs something,” one tech executive who has seen Universal’s presentation told BusinessWeek.com. “But you never write a check for it.”

Microsoft is one lead candidate to take up the fight with Universal and revive its Zune music player in the process.  But the wireless carriers are the most adept at bundling devices and services under a contract to keep the “free” feeling alive. I’d expect fierce fighting by wireless companies for deals with Universal.

While Universal is currently running DRM-free music trials on iTunes rivals, it is not said if Total Music would be DRM-free. But removing DRM from the digital music landscape could be the the next big cause, giving a competitive advantage to its champion.

Not only have super-group (ex GnR guys) Velvet Revolver survived three years of mishmash, they have released a new album and partnered with Zune to release Gas & A Dollar Laugh - an Exclusive track.  It’ll be interesting to see how many copies get downloaded and if we see more music coming exclusively to the Zune Marketplace.  BTW, the reviews for VR’s new album have been pretty positive- here’s what Monsters n Critics said:

“this album blows the doors off its predecessor. Save a pair of disinfected ballads (”The Last Fight,” “Gravedancer”), Libertad is all about hand-grenade chords, drag-racing riffs, and circus-tent choruses. The ageless McKagan and Slash continually gun for the disorderliness of their former band (most notably on the punkish opener “Let It Roll” and its lewd brother “Spay”), while Weiland sounds–knock on wood–positively clean and like a voice of boisterous renewal on tracks like “Mary Mary,” “She Builds Quick Machines,” and the melt-in-your-mouth cover of ELO’s “Can’t Get It Out of My Head.” Obviously egos have been checked at the studio door, as Velvet Revolver have already exceeded their anticipated existence. And now that existence goes back on the clock, trying to outshine a second album that’s head-and-shoulders better than the first. “

Sounds like I may pick up a copy!

The Recording Industry Association of America doesnt have many friends, and it seems to do a great job of pissng off just about everyone - Artists, music lovers, independent lables and more.   Continuing that trend, the RIAA are claiming the cost of CD’s is waaay to cheap. I’m not talking about $2 or $3 more per CD, nooo, they claim CD’s should be $35 or thereabouts.  Are these guys on the same drugs as Britney Spears?

If you visit the Key Stats/Facts page on the RIAA website, you’ll notice a justification for pricing CDs. The biggest argument appears to be the fact that the Consumer Price Index rose nearly 60 percent between 1983 and 1996, even though the price of a CD actually went down. While this might be a true statement, this is virtually worthless in determining how much a CD should cost.

Let’s examine this statement, directly from the website: If CD prices had risen at the same rate as consumer prices over this period, the average retail price of a CD in 1996 would have been $33.86 instead of $12.75.  Tell me, how much music would you purchase if the average price was $35 or more?  Not a lot I’d guess

Source: WHAS11

Warner Music Group and Last.fm, one of the leading Web 2.0 social music sites, have signed a deal to allow Warner’s entire music catalogue to be played legally on the Last.fm streaming service.   Last.fm works by recommending s songs by tracking your music-playing habits and suggests and plays new music based on other users with similar tastes.  According to Reuters, Last.fm co-founder Martin Stiksel said the site was in were in talks with the other three major labels and content holders.

Does this mean Google will soon purchase Last.fm - so they have audio and video covered?