• The Now That's What I Call Music series will launch a Spanish language version called Now
Latino - Esto Es Musica! The Latino and reggaeton music on these comps fit in well with the surge in Hurban radio stations. (PR Newswire)

• A profile on Hopeless Records and its founder, Louis Posen. (LA Times)

• eSunset is a new digital record label founded by Sunset Records Group and Play Fair Entertainment. The company has a partnership with Sony Digital Entertainment. Offerings so far are thin. The most well known names on the roster -- Fatboy Slim, Crystal Method, Sneaker Pimps -- are found on dance compilations, not artist albums. (Digital Music News)

• A new agreement will allow purchasers of Microsoft's Xbox 360 will get a year of free music videos and other goodies from Epic Records. The media will be accessed over the Xbox Live entertainment network. Sounds like the label is approaching this the proper way, which is to use new digital technoligies to develop artists in a meaningful way and not just expect a quick uptick in CD sales. (AP)

• Digital distributor IODA has hooked up with Verizon to sell its music through Verizon's VCast music service. The deal adds over 1,500 labels to the mobile service. (PR Newswire)

• Nettwerk Music Group, currently the leading RIAA bashers in the music industry thanks to boss Terry McBride's public spanking over consumer lawsuits, has inked a deal with digital distributor The Orchard. (Newswire)

• Bob Marley's bass player sues family and label, claiming he and his brother are due equal shares of the band's royalties because "it was the Barretts' unique sound which brought the Wailers international success." (Reuters)