We know for a fact that Virgin Entertainment Group is divesting themselves of all 52 offending titles and that Tower Records will most likely follow suit sometime today. Nevertheless, most retailers are reluctant to comment on what has quickly become a PR nightmare. The publicity departments at the major CD outlets have not been returning media phone calls.
Many insiders are opining that retailers that knowingly sell product with the rootkit software could be opening themselves up for the same kinds of class-action lawsuits that are now hitting Sony BMG.
The XCP encoded titles sold some 210k units last week. That means that retailers nationwide could lose as much as 30k a day in unit sales. Of course, 92k of those 210k units were Neil Diamond CDs. His latest Rick Rubin-produced album, 12 Songs, debuted at #4 on this week’s chart. Although many of the affected titles are catalog, other major releases include Bette Midler and Switchfoot.
OH, TANNENBAUM! ANOTHER GREAT CAREER HITS THE SKIDS
Another talented journalist trapped in the career cul de sac (5/17a)
THE COUNT: LIVE NATION TAPS TYLER, POST, BLINK FOR TOP U.S. FESTS
Cornering the market on surefire headliners (5/17a)
STAPLETON, WILSON BIG WINNERS AT THE ACMs
A genre mash-up at the home of the Cowboys (5/17a)
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THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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