Dotshop is closing
Swedish music mailorder/distro Dotshop is closing: https://www.dotshop.se/ds/news.php?nid=322
Is file sharing really the culprit or is it just the economy?
Tag: Industry
The Pirate Bay found guilty
A guilty verdict has been delivered in the Pirate Bay case: https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/pirate-bay-founders-get-jail-sentence-1003963586.story
Labelkollektiv adds Pad & Pen to their roster, starts blogging
Danish indie distro Labelkollektiv has added Pad & Pen Records to their ever-expanding roster. In related news, Labelkollektiv chairman Christian Villum just started blogging at BandBase.com and you can read his first post here: https://www.bandbase.com/Blog/AllMusic/38580/How-do-we-want-to-consume-music-today/ (the IAT shout-out is much-appreciated!)
Mubito goes bankrupt
MI reports that Malmö-based music-site hosting company Mubito has declared bankruptcy: https://www.musikindustrin.se/artikel/697/Mubito_i_konkurs___men_artistsajterna_fortsatter_fungera.html (in Swedish)
Apparently service is supposed to continue as usual as new management takes over.
Playground Music Norway to shut down, Fairplay Entertainment to take over
Playground Music is reportedly shutting down their Norwegian office and will be taken over by Fairplay Entertainment: https://www.farojournalen.no/pages/nor/2760-playground_legger_ned_fairplay_tar_over
Considering it's the same people (or at least most?), isn't that just business as usual with a new name?
Nomethod gets new distro, preps new Aerial
Nomethod has signed a new distribution deal with Border music so that means that their latest release, "Young punks are on the never-never" by Robert Svensson, will be getting a mid-priced rerelease with bonus tracks in the near future. The label also reports that Aerial's next album is mixed and ready to be mastered -- no release date on that one yet either, but I heard a rough cut and my mind was blown. Seriously, they aren't kidding when they say it sounds like Him Kerosene taken to the next level.
Label Kollektiv +2
Danish indie distro group Label Kollektiv has added ILK Records and Flat Ape Music to their roster. Read more: https://labelkollektiv.com/news/
Sofia Talvik signs with WorldSound
Sofia Talvik has signed an international deal with WorldSound to cover all territories outside Sweden. See here: https://www.worldsound.com/news
Indies vs. Tono
It might be a bit hard to follow for non-Norwegian speakers, but Groove is publishing a back-and-forth discussion between various indie labels (Fysisk Format, Mas-Kina) and licensing/copyright bureau Tono/NCB: https://www.groove.no/nyheter.html
This year's Scandinavian lineup at the Great Escape
Scandinavians representing at this year's Great Escape Festival in Brighton, England include team Norway: The New Wine, Harrys Gym, Thomas Dybdhal, Casiokids, I Was A King, Tommy Tokyo and Starving For My Gravy and Datarock; Sweden: The Deer Tracks, A Sad Day for Puppets and Dag for Dag; Finland: TV Off and Jaakko and Jay; and finally, repping for Iceland: Hjaltalín and Lay Low. Details: https://www.escapegreat.com/
Panda to relaunch on April 3
The Swedish webzine Panda is seeking to reinvent themselves yet again: https://www.pandamagazine.se/
Copyright extension could kill small labels
Dagens Nyheter reports that if the EU extends copyrights to 95 years as planned (they currently expire at 50), it could have serious consequences for some smaller, niche labels: https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/hannas-bolag-hotas-av-95-arig-inspelningsratt-1.827006 (in Swedish)
Salem to perform in LA
Salem (nee Salem al Fakir) will perform at The Viper Room in LA on April 28 as part of MusExpo.
Haddy N´jie licensed to Universal Norway
Trust Me Records has licensed the next album from Norwegian artist Haddy N´jie, due in September, to Universal.
Moneybrother, the soup
Besides releasing a new album, Moneybrother is also releasing a line of tomato soup. I wonder if he'll have any on the upcoming US tour...