• Album sales were up 10% last week and were "only" 8% lower than the same week last year. For the year, album sales are down about 16%. Digital track sales rose 3% and were 43% higher year over year.

• Rolling Stone magazine has the first of a two-part series on the fall of the music industry, a situation for which "there's no hope in sight." It's a collection of previously told stories and publicly available sales statistics. As with many articles that attempt to describe labels' failed attempts over the years, the writers tell us that the industry's death blow was failing to work with the original Napster. I don't believe P2P is or ever was the cure-all it's made out to be. Assuming all or most P2P users would have or ever will pay a voluntary monthly fee is as pie-in-the-sky as it gets. (Rolling Stone)

• Quincy Jones is becoming a brand that will encompass digital media, how-to publishing, clothing and even (reportedly) shaving cream. The marketing push is being led by Jones' management team at The Firm. (Billboard.biz)

• Music and social networking continues to get more new ideas and more venture capital. One of the newest companies is Fuzz. The site allows bands to set up profiles and sell their music. (Fuzz, via CMJ)

• Seventy-two House members oppose a merger between satellite radio companies XM and Sirius. (Radio Ink)

• RealNetworks' Rob Glaser answers questions on the new Real Player 11, Real's file formats and the Rhapsody music service. (Rhapsody Blog, via paidContent)

• Australian rock band Airborne, dumped by Capital amidst the shake-up at EMI, just signed to Roadrunner. (The Age)