Bruce Springsteen Rallies Again For the Little Guy

By Scott Lauer on 01-12-2009

In perhaps the most unlikely music pairing in, well, maybe the history of the music industry, Open Your Eyes Records has teamed up with What.cd, the website that brings you tons of lovely albums with quality standards via torrent (for “free”). Along with Waffles.fm, What.cd is responsible for filling the gigantic shoes of former music site OiNK. Despite the claims of industries that try to eliminate music piracy, these sites will not die, and obviously some people in the industry are starting to embrace these underground power sites with open arms.

According to What.cd (which you won’t be able to see unless you are one of the lucky elite invited to this site):

Open Your Eyes Records and What.cd are collaborating to revolutionize the industry landscape by making it clear that P2P technology and record labels can work hand-in-hand to accomplish their ultimate goals: getting artists heard and growing their fan base.

So, although Open Your Eyes Records are only responsible for one artist at the moment, it would seem that some record labels are indeed embracing file-sharing, though it seems pretty unlikely we will be getting a glowing press release from the RIAA anytime soon showing their enthusiasm for this partnership. Cheers to 2009 kicking off with a partnership in the industry that is truly embracing change! Now let’s see how "this one" can do.

By Kid Midnight on 01-12-2009

Former friends Sir Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson may have reconciliation in their collective futures. Jackson, who just recently started complaining of “dying” from a rare genetic lung disease, has begun to put his affairs in order before ascending to the heavenly throne of King of Pop. Now 50 and possibly wheelchair-bound, Jackson has drafted a new will with a specific clause stating that, should Jackson die, McCartney would regain control of his share of the Beatles catalog.

Jackson famously outbid McCartney with £350 million for the publishing rights to the entirety of the Lennon-McCartney songbook in 1985, which of course also marked the end of their brotherly goodwill and creative partnership. But Jackson is making it quite clear that he wishes to bury the axe, and an insider close to the pop star had this to say:

Michael is worried about his health so decided it was time to look at his finances. Most of his estate has been divided up between his three children. But Michael told his lawyers he was sad he no longer talks to Sir Paul and said he wanted to make things right.

Let’s hope this works out, because then they might write a sequel to the “Girl is Mine” song. I’ve always wondered who got to do the dirty deed with the lady at the end of the night.