San Francisco - Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) is taking some criticism for following a move Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) was compelled to backtrack on, namely discontinuing a digital rights management-laden music service in a way that will make some songs purchased by consumers unplayable. Microsoft eventually added three years of support for customers who purchased downloads from its MSN Music store, who complained that their songs would no longer be available if they ever had to reauthorize them on another computer.

San Francisco - Microsoft has reversed its stance, and says it will now continue to support DRM-tethered tracks purchased at its now-defunct MSN Music store "through at least the end of 2011," Ars Technica reports. The company has previously announced that tracks purchased from the store would no longer work on new PCs and devices after Aug. 31.

Redmond, Wash. - As a result of Microsoft shuttering its MSN Music store in favor of its Zune Marketplace, the company has told MSN Music customers that the licenses for the songs they purchased can be updated for the last time up until Aug. 31 -- after which time the songs cannot ever again be transferred from the devices on which they are currently stored, according to reports.

New York - A rare club performance by Madonna scheduled for April 30 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York will be webcast live by Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) MSN Music to U.S. users, and to the rest of the world on May 15, Billboard reports. The artist's Icon fan club has also added social networking components, including a $40 platinum membership that offers exclusive concert pre-sales and other goodies.