London - European online music store Datz this week announced the launch of a new unlimited download service that provides DRM-free MP3 tracks for an annual fee of about $160. Powered by 24-7 Entertainment, the Datz Music Lounge will feature tracks from major labels Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG) and EMI, as well as independents including The Orchard and Beggars Group. One stipulation is that users purchase a kit that includes a USB key that must be inserted into a PC to access the service.

New York - SpiralFrog, an ad-supported music download service, said this week that its catalog now includes more than 3 million tracks, four times the amount offered since its launch just over a year ago. The company now also offers nearly 5,000 music videos, and claims its number of registered users has climbed to more than 2.3 million.

Chicago - Video game publisher Midway Games (NYSE: MWY) announced this week that it has named Matthew V. Booty as president and CEO of the company. Former chief executive David Zucker announced he was leaving the company in March; since then, Booty has served as interim CEO. Sumner Redstone, chairman and CEO of Midway parent National Amusements, said at the time that "Our new leader must have the proven capabilities and track record to lead Midway and to reclaim its place in the forefront of the fast growing videogame industry."

Sacramento, Calif. - Concert promoter and live venue owner Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) announced on Friday that it has donated $50,000 to the No on Prop. 8 campaign in California, which is fighting to defeat the ballot measure that would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in the state.

Mountain View, Calif. - More than four months after signing a major advertising pact with Yahoo, Google may be on the verge of calling off the deal, Reuters reported on Friday. Under the partnership, which could increase Yahoo's cash flow by as much as $450 million in the first year, Google would sell advertising for some of Yahoo's Web properties.

Duluth, Minn. - A federal judge has set a tentative date of March 9 to begin the retrial of Jammie Thomas, the first person to be convicted by a jury of copyright infringement on file-sharing networks, whose earlier conviction was vacated by the judge, Wired.com reported.

Cupertino, Calif. - While 43% of Apple (NASD: AAPL) iPhone owners earn in excess of $100,000 annually, the strongest growth in users is coming from those earning less than the median household income, particularly since the launch of the iPhone 3G, according to a new report from comScore.

Santa Clara, Calif. - Clearleap, a developer of video technology, announced on Friday that it has raised $3.3 million in venture debt from Silicon Valley Bank.

Brussels - The Belgian government has banned video game rentals in the country, following complaints from industry trade group the Belgian Entertainment Association that rentals were cannibalizing sales, Kotaku reports.

Los Angeles - China's State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) banned ten video sites this week and doled out warnings to another 17, but none of the actions appear to be related to piracy, TorrentFreak reports.

Los Angeles - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) is courting four Hollywood movie studios all bidding on the big screen rights to an as-yet-unannounced new title from the video game publisher, Variety reports.

Los Angeles - The man accused of posting unreleased tracks from the upcoming Guns N' Roses album "Chinese Democracy" on his blog saw the charges against him reduced this week, from a felony to a misdemeanor, meaning that he now faces up to one year in prison instead of five, Wired.com reports.

Richmond, Va. - Circuit City Stores (NYSE: CC), the troubled consumer electronics retailer, said that it has received a warning from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that its stock has fallen out of compliance with market rules.

Paris - Awdio, a provider of live webcasting services for concert venues, has raised about $2 million in new financing, led by Ventech, TechCrunch reported.

New York - Retail giant Walmart (NYSE: WMT) will sell HTC's G1 mobile phone -- the first handset to feature Google's (NASD: GOOG) Android operating system -- for $30 less than exclusive wireless carrier partner T-Mobile is charging for the device, Reuters reported. Walmart is now selling the G1 for $148.88 to customers who sign up for a two-year contract with T-Mobile. T-Mobile, meanwhile, is selling the G1 for $179.

San Francisco - News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) MySpace has offered the CEO position at its new MySpace Music joint venture with the major record labels to Courtney Holt, who currently serves as executive vice president of digital music and media at MTV Networks, a music industry source with knowledge of the talks told CNET News.com. Both Holt, a former Interscope Records executive, and MySpace declined to comment on the matter for CNET. MySpace has been looking to fill the position for some months now, and launched the new music venture with the spot still unfilled.

Los Angeles - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spent over $44,000 on campaign ads placed within video games, GameSpot reported, citing the campaign's filing with the Federal Election Commission. The campaign paid in-game ad network Massive Inc. to place ads within games like "Burnout Paradise" for the Xbox 360. Additionally, Massive told GameSpot that it approached Sen. John McCain's campaign about advertising in games, which rejected the offer.

Dallas - AT&T (NYSE: NWS) announced on Thursday that it is provided free Wi-Fi access to first- and second-generation iPhone (NASD: AAPL) owners and select BlackBerry (NASD: RIMM) owners at its 17,000 hotspots, which can be found in locations including Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. The company said it also plans to make the offer available to more mobile devices in the future.

San Francisco - Online ticket marketplace StubHub said on Thursday that it has expanded its relationship with cable sports network ESPN. A year after launching its service across ESPN.com, StubHub said that the partnership now will include television, radio, mobile and more robust online components, as well.

Los Angeles - Napster, the digital music service recently acquired by retail chain Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), announced on Thursday that it has extended its Napster Mobile service to AT&T's (NYSE: T) 13 million wireless subscribers. Napster Mobile, which offers over 6 million songs, is now available on more than 25 AT&T smartphones and handsets.