Los Angeles - ArtistDirect, a provider of music and movie information and owner of anti-piracy firm MediaDefender, announced that it has made significant changes to its capital structure, which included paying off senior debt, converting subordinated debt to common stock, and securing a new credit facility with Pacific Business Capital Corporation.

*A correction has been made to this story.

Santa Monica, Calif. - ArtistDirect, an online network focused on music and film, announced on Monday that it has signed lyrics licensing agreements with Universal Music Publishing and EMI Music Publishing, and plans to launch a new song lyrics section on its site in the fall.

Santa Monica, Calif. - In an advertising first, Sprint will sponsor a major label song distributed on file-sharing networks.

Santa Monica, Calif. - ArtistDirect, an independent music destination and provider of anti-piracy technologies, said on Wednesday that Universal's Suretone Records has signed on to use its MediaDefender platform that encourages users on illicit peer-to-peer networks to download legitimate files. The technology directs users seeking files from Suretone artists like Weezer and The Cure to Suretone-branded exclusive files. The deal will also establish a Suretone video channel on ArtistDirect.com, which claims 15 million monthly U.S. visitors and 40 million worldwide.