• Sony BMG fired the president of its classical music division, Gilbert Hetherwick, and six other staffers at Sony BMG Masterworks. The Masterworks label is being folded into Sony BMG Music Entertainment Commercial Music Group to make it (quoting from a statement) "eaner, more responsive and more effective in adapting to the new realities of reaching the classical music consumer." (Read article at Playbill)

• Rhino Records, the venerable catalog label owned by Warner Music Group, has a deal with Verizon Wireless that will allow V CAST customers to purchase ring tones and ringback tones of classic songs from the Rhino Catalog. The songs will be released in a series called "Songs You Know." Each volume is a bundle of tones and songs (that will be downloaded to the PC) and have a price tag of $9.99. Artists on the first volume include Otis Redding, Mr. Big, Devo and Skid Row. Volume Two includes songs by Dio, Brandy, The Ramones and En Vogue. I can't speak for all consumers, but I think these are pretty terrible mixes of artists and genres. This would be fine unbundled, but bundling Dio and Brandy doesn't make sense. (Read press release)

• Warner Music International has partnered with social network elHood.com. The deal will put WMI content in the music-focused, Latin-targeted social networking site. (Read article at elHood.com)

• A country Coachella? Goldenvoice, who puts on the popular Coachella Valley and Arts Festival, is putting together a country version to take place May 5th and 6th, 2007. Artists on the bill so far are Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Earl Scruggs and Nickel Creek. (Read article at Pollstar)

• Brooklyn band Mgmt has signed with Columbia. (Read article at Hits)