• Universal Music Group will become a strategic investor in Alliance TRACE Media, an international media platform centered on urban music and culture. UMG will give TRACE video and music rights, a weekly spot on UMG's International Music Feed and cross promotion and marketing support. (Press release)

• The Freep wonders if Bob Segar will leave Capitol Records for Starbucks' Hear Music. (The question is, Will he walk or be given his walking papers?) The article says Segar's office sent out a press release that mentioned, among other things, that no Capitol employees attended his March 17th show at Cobo or the platinum ceremony. (Detroit Free Press)

• Mercora launched M v2, the industry's first social music player and radio service for 3G mobile phones. (Press release)

• I think there has been some confusion about CD sales with all the articles that have been written in the last week. CD sales are not down 20%. They're down about 26% versus last year. The album as a format is down 20%. The difference is a strong but, given its small weighting, modest rise in digital album sales.