• First the revenue warnings, now the spin. EMI is downplaying its expected drop in revenue by saying digital revenues are growing at a healthy clip. Forbes.com thinks EMI is sending "mixed messages." Indeed. Digital growth -- a song here, a song there -- comes at the expense of CD sales -- ten or 12 songs at a time. The rates are going in opposite directions. If EMI's revenues will be down 4%, it seems the company may not have the right strategy to make up for the loss of CD sales. The bottom line could be fine, though. Revenue growth -- or at least stability -- would certainly please investors, but a stable net income would practically be cause for celebration given the tough environments the majors are in these days. (Read article at Forbes.com)

• Big ringtone news: The US Copyright Office says compositions for ringtones may be subject to a compulsory license. (Read article at Billboard.biz)

• Diddy will team up with the new Best Buy Digital Music Store to promote Play, which goes on sale today. To purchasers of an album download, Best Buy will offer the exclusive Diddy track "Come To Me" (Remix) featuring rapper T.I. CD buyers get free shipping and the exclusive track "Get Off." What are the odds that every Best Buy store in the country is going to be packed to the gills with Play? Pretty good, I'd say. (Read press release)

• More Diddy news: EMI Publishing was resigned the entrepreneur to a longterm publishing deal. (Read post at Hits Rumor Mill)

• The Boston Herald asks people, "Will shoppers care when the last record store goes out of business?" A few "it's sad" comments, and one that oddly places music in the luxury category. (Read article at Boston Herald)

• Nokia finalized its $60 million acquisition of digital music distributor Loudeye. Nokia intends to use Loudeye to broaden its mobile music offerings. The press release puts forth the company's goal: "Our vision is to enable people to access all the music they want, anywhere, anytime and at a reasonable cost." Coolfer looks forward to finding out what that "reasonable cost" will be. (Read press release)

• There's plenty of talk at The Velvet Rope about Jumaine Dupri's dissatisfaction with sales of Janet Jackson's new album 20 Y.O. One of the longest one-day threads in recent memory. There are two sides: Jermaine Dupri screwed up and should be ousted as head of Virgin's Urban department. Or, the buck stops with boss Jason Flom. Both sides seem to agree the album is weak. Post-EMI Mariah gets referenced a few times, naturally. (Read thread at The Velvet Rope)

New York University is seeking a Department Chair for The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.