• Seems like forever since I read a Jeff Leeds article. Here's one, "Ads Test Payola Case Settlement," about an Entercom program called "CD Preview." The program allows labels to buy ads in which to showcase their music -- and the plays count as a spin on radio charts. Given the recent payola lawsuits, Eliot Spitzer is certainly taking a look by now. (Read article at New York Times)

• Hmm...an article at a marketing website about the viral campaign for John Legend's upcoming album, Once Again. Not much of it is particularly interesting (been there, done that) except for the mention of Sony's recruitment of "fan advocates" to create a word-of-mouth campaign. That must be the grown-up word for "street team." This stands out because Legend has eight Grammy Awards and 2.6 million in album sales -- more than the usual "word of mouth" artist. Also, street teams are just so old school. Hey, when it works it works. The Internet can't do everything. (Read article at Brand Republic)

• Consumer Reports surveyed its subscribers on digital music habits. It found 60% of first-time MP3 player buyers are listening to more music than they used to, and 50% are listening during activities that were previously music-free (not a shock). Here's a comforting stat for you paranoid types: only 8% responded that the purchase of an MP3 player prompted them to use P2P networks to acquite music. (No word on how many already used P2P networks and store songs on their computers.) (Read article at ConsumerReports.com, via Digital Audio Insider)

• What has former Virgin Records head Matt Serletic been up to lately? Producing the debut album by "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks. The so-far-untited album is due out December 5th, the same day as the sophomore album by Gwen Stefani. (Read at Hits Rumor Mill)

• Source magazine and its founders are back in the news, this time for the $14.5 million decision in favor of a former editor who filed a sexual discrimination suit. (Read article at NY Post)

[music jobs] Director of Content at Dada Entertainment; New York, NY.