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Glee is selling albums and digital singles for Stringer’s team, just like Idol once did.

I.B. BAD ON THE MORPHING PRESENT AND WIDE-OPEN FUTURE

Our In-House Pundit Looks at Who’s Hot, Who’s Moving In and Who’s About to Be Moved Out
The rank and file of EMI breathed a collective sigh of relief when the news hit Tuesday morning that Guy Hands had managed to secure the $156m needed to maintain the status quo at the company for the next 12 months. But the Terra Firma chief’s last-minute save hasn’t altered the attitudes of Sony or UMG toward making a distribution or licensing deal with EMI. What the two potential partners remain understandably concerned about is locking down a long-term agreement, only to have Terra default on the loan to Citigroup at some point down the line. Hands’ next challenge involves providing an ironclad assurance that such a situation won’t occur, either by demonstrating that he can secure the needed additional hundreds of millions from investors, or by proving that EMI has the wherewithal to generate enough revenue on its own to keep it solvent. At this point, both scenarios are tough sells, to say the least. Meanwhile, insiders say that the relationship between EMI and Citi is improving, though the same can’t be said about relations between Terra and the lender, with an October court date to resolve Terra’s suit against Citi on the calendar… As Hands was locking down the funds, EMI kept the pedal to the medal, coming with a new single from Katy Perry that was immediately declared a smash by Top 40 handicappers. “California Gurls,” the latest video-centric concoction from the formidable Perry-Dr. Luke team, further intensifies EMI’s hot streak, paced by Lady Antebellum, whose title song has broken wide open at Pop and Hot AC under the veteran leadership of Greg Thompson, while the album passed the 2m mark this week. Perry’s track provides a tantalizing preview of her eagerly anticipated sophomore album, streeting in August, which should give another boost to EMI’s remarkable turnaround; the company is just below 12% in new release marketshare… In another ongoing drama, the fortunes of American Idol and Glee are moving in opposite directions, as the upstart music-focused series keeps gaining in popularity while its long-dominant Fox lead-in experiences its lowest ratings since Idol’s first season in 2002. What’s more, Glee is selling albums for Rob Stringer’s team (nearly 1.6m total on the three releases, with the fourth hitting next Tuesday) and digital singles (6m+), as well as concert tickets (the upcoming tour has sold out), just like Idol once did. While the decline of Idol’s musical clout has been gradual—and though a guest appearance can still spike sales for certain high-profile acts, as happened just last week with Lady Gaga—the show has failed to throw off a career artist since 2006 contestant Chris Daughtry. Kris Allen, last year’s winner, has sold just 300k, though runner-up Adam Lambert has moved 625k, thanks primarily to the Gaga-esque imaging of the androgynous tabloid magnet. The shift adds up to a glass-half-full situation for Sony Music, which releases product pulled from both shows. SME will also release music associated with departing Idol judge Simon Cowell’s X Factor, which makes its U.S. debut next year… As the music retail world flocks to Chicago for the NARM convention, one major buzz surrounds the naming of EMI executive Darren Stupak as the new head of Sony Music’s sales and distribution operations, and the exit of his predecessor, J.J. Schaidler, who left Best Buy to take the job just nine months ago. EMI’s Ronn Werre nimbly avoided the inevitable buttonholing by conventioneers by promoting Dominic Pandiscia to EVP of Sales even before Sony had announced Stupak’s hiring. Another likely hot topic, stemming from the recent headlines generated by Spotify, Rhapsody and Lala, has to do with the potential viability of next-gen subscription services, as speculation increases about the possible launch of an iTunes service employing an update of Lala’s streaming technology. While the majors reportedly have yet to discuss the matter with Steve Jobs, suggesting that such a scenario is a long way from becoming a reality, these rumors have caused retail mavens to ponder the impact of the launch of an appealing sub service on the digital download market… Joining Schaidler in free agency is veteran executive Andy Schuon, who has left his post at the former Ticketmaster. His exit further thickens a resume that includes stints at KROQ, MTV, Warner Bros. Records, Farmclub, Pressplay, Infinity and IMF… Lots of chatter about the head of a Big Four label rumored to be under intense scrutiny from higher ups, who are pondering whether to replace said executive or fold the label into a sister label within the music group… Names in the Rumor Mill: Charles Allen, Roger Ames, Lucian Grainge, Nick Gatfield, Van Toffler, Jared Paul and Fred Goodman.
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