Stockholm, Sweden - Spotify, the Sweden-based developer of an ad-supported digital music service, on Tuesday announced its launch with the signing of licensing deals with all four major record labels, as well as independent labels represented by Merlin and The Orchard.

Los Angeles - After independent record label bodies including Merlin and A2IM criticized MySpace (NYSE: NWS) for not offering them an equity position in its MySpace Music joint venture with the major record labels, MySpace responded in a statement saying it offered all labels the same deal, while independent music digital distributor The Orchard, which signed on with MySpace Music, explained its decision. "We have offered a relationship with Merlin that provides equal opportunities to Merlin's labels and Merlin's artists that we have provided to ALL labels and artists whether they are Indie Artists, Major Artists or Unsigned artists," reads the MySpace statement.

Los Angeles - News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) MySpace launched its new music service without having first secured deals with top independent labels such as Beggars Group, Domino and Koch, a move that Merlin, the independent rights body that represents them, called "incredibly disappointing." MySpace Music is a joint venture between the social network and major labels Warner Music, EMI, Universal Music and Sony BMG, and these labels and their artists will therefore share in the revenue generated by the service.

London - CBS-owned (NYSE: CBS) social music discovery service Last.fm announced on Wednesday the launch of a new artist royalty program, which the company said will give unsigned and independent artists the opportunity to accrue royalties every time their tracks are listened to on the site.

New York - Merlin, a new trade body founded a year ago with the aim of representing the rights of independent labels worldwide, announced on Wednesday that its membership has grown to over 12,000 labels, representing over 8% of the U.S. market -- equal to that of major label EMI Music. The group claims to now be in essence a "fifth major label," and said it is currently in discussions with Last.fm (NYSE: CBS) and MySpace (NYSE: NWS), as well as other major digital companies, to ensure competitive remuneration for independents worldwide.

Los Angeles - Merlin, a newly-created trade group that will represent independent record labels in online negotiations worldwide, on Monday announced its official launch and the appointment of a 15-member board.

LATV, a bilingual music and entertainment network distributed via digital multicast, announced today the appointment of Bill Jenkins as Vice President of Advertising Sales. Jenkins will roll out the network's nationwide sales program as well as oversee the local sales at LATV Los Angeles affiliate KJLA.
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Cannes, France - A consortium of the world's independent record labels have joined to form Merlin, a new licensing agency that will release music from the labels that represent 30% of the world's music market to digital services.